Staging and monitoring response to treatment in primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of bone marrow using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

Clin Lymphoma. 2001 Mar;1(4):303-6; discussion 307. doi: 10.3816/clm.2001.n.006.

Abstract

Bone marrow involvement can be found in patients with low-, intermediate-, or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A 40-year-old woman experienced onset of low back pain radiating into her entire right lower extremity. Plain x-rays of her right leg and computed tomography of chest, abdomen, and pelvis were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging of pelvis and thighs revealed diffusely abnormal marrow signal (low T1 and high T2 weighted) in the pelvis and femora. The patient underwent (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan to evaluate the extent of her disease. The scan revealed diffuse scattered foci of abnormal FDG uptake in the bone/bone marrow, which was particularly intense in the axial bones. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed extensive involvement of the bone marrow with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This case report highlights the utility of FDG-PET in the detection of bone marrow involvement by aggressive lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Vincristine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide

Supplementary concepts

  • CVAD protocol