August 9, 2013

PET/CT Bests Gold Standard Bone Marrow Biopsy for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Lymphoma Patients

A more precise method for determining bone marrow involvement in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) — a key factor in tailoring patient management plans — has been identified by researchers in a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Imaging with 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), when compared to bone marrow biopsy, was more sensitive, showed a higher negative predictive value and was more accurate, changing treatment for 42 percent of patients with bone marrow involvement.