Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Gene Regulation and Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis: Radiological Findings from Dual Energy CT and PET/CT
Published on: January 22, 2018
[The value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the staging of diffuse large B-cell
Silvia Fuertes1, Xavier Setoain, Armando López-Guillermo
1Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villaroel 170, Barcelona, Spain. sfuertes75@hotmail.com
Background And Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in improving the staging and changing the management of aggressive lymphoma patients in comparison with the conventional imaging modalities (CT, and 67Ga scintigraphy).
Patients And Method:
Forty consecutive patients with diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin lymphoma, were prospectively evaluated. All 40 patients underwent a whole body FDG PET/CT and conventional staging techniques (chest and abdomen CT, 67Ga scintigraphy) were studied before therapy. Sixty minutes after the intravenous administration of 370 MBq FDG, a whole body PET/CT was acquired. We hypothesize that PET/CT improves the diagnostic staging of lymphoma and changes the clinical management of patients.
Results:
PET/CT and CT were concordant in 28 patients (65%). However, PET/CT detected more lesions than CT in 11 patients (27.5%). Only in one patient, CT revealed more extensive disease than PET/CT. Additional information of PET/CT had lead to a change in staging (upstaging) in 6 patients (15%), in turn leading to a change in treatment strategy in 1 patient. PET/CT and 67Ga scintigraphy were concordant in 23 patients (60.5%). PET/CT detected more lesions than 67Ga scintigraphy in 14 patients (42%). PET/CT results changed staging (upstaging) in 4 patients (15%), leading to a change of treatment strategy in one patient.
Conclusions:
The impression is that PET/CT detected more lesions than conventional examination, but this rarely translates into changes of staging and treatment strategy in aggressive lymphoma.
Related Concept Videos
Positron Emission Tomography
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET
Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
