Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Diagnostic Radiology Department, Ismailia Oncology Teaching Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt
2
Diagnostic Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. Ismailia, Egypt
3
Nuclear Medicine Department, Egypt’s Nasser Institute for Research and Treatment, Misr University for Science and Technology, Egypt
4
Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. Ismailia, Egypt
5
2Diagnostic Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and early evaluation of treatment response is crucial for optimizing outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of 18Fluorine -Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in staging and early treatment response assessment of DLBCL using the Deauville scoring system and standardized uptake value (SUV). Patients and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 histopathologically confirmed DLBCL patients at Ismailia Oncology Teaching Hospital, Egypt. Patients underwent baseline and interim PET/CT scans following 3–4 cycles of rituximab (Target therapy). FDG uptake was assessed semi-quantitatively via SUVmax and Deauville score. Correlations were evaluated between metabolic activity, staging, and treatment response. Results: Among 80 patients, 85% were metabolic responders, with 75% achieving complete remission. Significant reductions in SUVmax and Deauville scores were observed post-therapy among responders (p<0.001). Over half of responders showed no FDG uptake post-treatment. PET/CT showed high sensitivity (97.9%) and negative predictive value (91.7%) for response evaluation, supporting its prognostic accuracy. Conclusion: Interim 18F-FDG PET/CT is a valuable prognostic tool in DLBCL, effectively identifying responders and guiding therapeutic decisions. However, standardization in interpretation is essential to ensure consistency and reliability across clinical settings
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