Can the SUV_max-liver-based interpretation improve prognostic accuracy of interim and posttreatment ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?

Abstract

In order to investigate whether the SUV_max-liver-based interpretation could improve prognostic accuracy of interim (PET-4) and posttreatment PET/CT (PET-end), 115 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were recruited in the study. ROC analysis revealed the optimal threshold is 1.6-fold of SUV_max-liver for PET-4 and 1.4-fold of SUV_max-liver for PET-end. The SUV_max-liver-based interpretation had a perfect interobserver agreement, higher prognostic accuracy and positive predictive value than 5-point scale and %ΔSUV_max criteria in both PET-4 and PET-end. Dramatic differences in the outcome between patients with positive and negative PET-4/PET-end were demonstrated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves (p < .05). Univariate and multifactor analysis found PET-4 and PET-end were independent prognostic factors for the outcome of DLBCL. In conclusion, the SUV_max-liver-based interpretation were superior to 5-point scale and %ΔSUV_max criteria in analyzing the PET-4 and PET-end for the prognosis of DLBCL patients.

Keywords:

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• PET/CT
• prognosis
• The SUV_max-liver-based interpretation

Acknowledgments

The study was supported by a grant from Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission [2017-026] and Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Incubating Program [PX2017028]. This retrospective study was performed and approved by an Investigational Review Board of the Peking University Cancer Hospital, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2017.1357171.

Additional information

Funding

Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission2017-026

Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Incubating ProgramPX2017028

The study was supported by a grant from Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission [2017-026] and Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Incubating Program [PX2017028].