High rates of surveillance imaging for treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: findings from a large national database

Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 Jun;53(6):1113-6. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2011.639882. Epub 2012 Feb 3.

Abstract

We aimed to characterize surveillance imaging and circumstances of relapse for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Outcomes Database, a prospective cohort study collecting clinical and outcome data at seven comprehensive cancer centers. Patients presenting with newly diagnosed DLBCL in remission ≥3 months after initial therapy and who had accrued 2 years of follow-up were eligible for analysis (n = 625). The median number of imaging studies was 2.5/year (institutional range 0.5-3.5, p < 0.0001); 48.4% received only dedicated computed tomography (CT) scans, 14.6% received only positron emission tomography (PET)-inclusive modalities, 32.8% received a combination and 4.2% received no imaging. Among all eligible patients, 50 (8.0%) experienced relapse, and approximately one-quarter of subclinical relapses were detected through routine imaging. Our results suggest that despite limited data regarding its effect on outcomes, surveillance imaging is prevalent in DLBCL, and a majority of patients receive PET scans at some point during follow-up.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Databases, Factual / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diagnostic Imaging / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / epidemiology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / statistics & numerical data
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data
  • Recurrence
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Watchful Waiting / statistics & numerical data