FDG-PET/CT is a pivotal imaging modality to diagnose rare intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: case report and review of literature

Hematol Oncol. 2015 Jun;33(2):99-109. doi: 10.1002/hon.2140. Epub 2014 May 21.

Abstract

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) remains a diagnostic challenge, because of non-specific findings on clinical, laboratory, and imaging studies. We present a case in which 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography was particularly useful to suspect the diagnosis, to detect unexpected locations, to guide contributive biopsy, and to assess the response to treatment. In case of initial negative results, FDG-PET should be repeated in the course of clinical evolution. In the presence of neurological or hormonal symptoms without brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormality, FDG-PET brain slices could depict additional pituitary and/or brain hypermetabolisms. We discuss the potential interests of FDG-PET in IVLBCL by a literature review.

Keywords: FDG-PET/CT; intravascular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; lung biopsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cough / etiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes / pharmacokinetics
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / pharmacokinetics
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / therapy
  • Male
  • Multimodal Imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics
  • Remission Induction
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Gland / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Vascular Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Vascular Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18