Post transplant lymphoproliferative disease in pediatric solid organ transplant patients: a possible role for [18F]-FDG-PET(/CT) in initial staging and therapy monitoring

Eur J Radiol. 2007 Sep;63(3):427-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2007.01.007. Epub 2007 Feb 9.

Abstract

Post transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a severe complication after solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. In pediatric transplant recipients PTLD is the most common malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible role for positron emission tomography with [18F]-2-fluoro-2-desoxy-glucose (FDG) in the initial staging and in therapy monitoring of pediatric patients suffering from biopsy-proven CD20-positive PTLD after solid organ transplantation. Seven pediatric patients were included. All available imaging studies - CT (n=15), MRI (n=16) and PET/PETCT (n=16) - were reviewed on a lesion by lesion base. The performance of FDG-PET in the initial staging and during therapy with a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody was compared to conventional cross sectional imaging and correlated with the clinical outcome. FDG-PET identified all sites of disease as shown by CT/MRI and helped to clarify the significance of equivocal findings. The initial stage of disease was correctly identified by FDG-PET alone when compared to CT/MRI. During therapy, FDG-PET was superior to conventional cross-sectional imaging in the early evaluation of response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / etiology
  • Male
  • Organ Transplantation*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18