Prospective Comparison Between FDG-PET/MR and FDG-PET/CT in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma and DLBC Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Overview

According to the most recent guidelines, total-body imaging techniques are an indispensable element in the staging and post-treatment re-evaluation in patients with lymphoma. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is the gold-standard for the assessment of the disease in these patients. The use of alternative methods, without radiation, such as whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), could be a valid alternative; this would result an advantage, considering the young age of the majority of patients at diagnosis and the need to undergo to serial assessments. The recent introduction of combined PET total body MRI (PET/MRI) offers the possibility to integrate morphological information with the high resolution of MRI with the metabolic activity of PET, through the uptake of FDG, for a more accurate definition of the extent of disease in patients with lymphoma.

All patients diagnosed with classical Hodgkin lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that meet the inclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study. They will undergo an FDG-PET/CT for defining the staging and the therapeutic strategy. PET/MRI scans will be performed immediately upon completion of the PET/contrast-enhanced CT study and FDG tracer will be injected before the PET/CT exam and PET/MRI acquisitions will be practiced using the residual activity of the tracer. All patients will have to provide their informed consent in order to participate in the study. The combined assessment FDG-PET/CT and FDG-PET/MRI will be performed at diagnosis for staging, at the interim evaluation for early assessment of treatment response after 2 cycles of chemotherapy and finally the post-chemotherapy re-staging. The enrollment period is 24 months for a total of 60 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and 60 with DLBC non Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients enrolled in the study will be followed for the diagnostic/therapeutic program at the Hematology Department of Federico II University of Naples, while the FDG-PET/CT and FDG-PET/MRI examinations will be carried out at the IRCSS SDN of Naples. The acquired images will be evaluated by a panel of experienced radiologists and nuclear physicians at the IRCSS SDN Naples. The results obtained from the examination MRI will not modify in any way the clinical therapeutic choices in the planned chemotherapy for the patient, who will not receive additional radiations. This prospective pilot study will be conducted after approval by the Ethics Committee; each patient will sign an appropriate informed consent.