Recent Updates of PET in Lymphoma: FDG and Beyond

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Lymphoma is a prevalent cancer globally, classified into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin types.
• 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) is vital for lymphoma diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and treatment response.
• Advancements in imaging, AI, and novel tracers are enhancing PET's role in lymphoma evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current clinical uses of FDG PET in lymphoma.
• To explore emerging PET radiotracers beyond FDG for lymphoma imaging.
• To discuss the mechanisms and potential clinical impact of novel PET tracers.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on FDG PET in lymphoma.
• Analysis of novel PET radiotracers, including fibroblast activation protein inhibitors and immunoPET.
• Discussion of technological advancements and artificial intelligence in PET imaging.

Main Results:

• FDG PET is an established tool but lacks cancer specificity, reflecting glucose metabolism.
• Novel tracers targeting the tumor microenvironment (e.g., fibroblast activation protein inhibitors) show promise.
• ImmunoPET using 89Zr offers insights into immune status and aids therapeutic development.

Conclusions:

• FDG PET remains essential for lymphoma management.
• Novel PET tracers offer improved specificity and functional information.
• Emerging PET technologies are poised to significantly advance lymphoma diagnosis and treatment strategies.