Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT as A Biomarker for Early Response Assessment of Target Therapy in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma | ||
Suez Canal University Medical Journal | ||
Article 6, Volume 28, Issue 9, September 2025, Pages 47-59 PDF (646.32 K) | ||
Document Type: Original Article | ||
DOI: 10.21608/scumj.2025.402228.1700 | ||
Authors | ||
Sara Mohsen Ahmed* 1; Aya Shahat El-Rawy2; Sherien Mohamed Ahmed3; Fifi Mostafa Elsayed4; Ahmed Tohamy Ahmed5 | ||
1Diagnostic Radiology Department, Ismailia Oncology Teaching Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt | ||
2Diagnostic Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. Ismailia, Egypt | ||
3Nuclear Medicine Department, Egypt’s Nasser Institute for Research and Treatment, Misr University for Science and Technology, Egypt | ||
4Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. Ismailia, Egypt | ||
52Diagnostic 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 | ||
Keywords | ||
DLBCL; PET/CT; Deauville score; SUVmax | ||
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