Abstract
Positron emission tomography based on fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F FDG-PET) is currently a standard procedure in the initial staging and restaging after treatment in Hodgkinęs lymphoma (HL) patients. The complete remission is confirmed by a negative PET examination at the end of treatment and it has a high negative predictive value.
Currently the criteria of positive and negative PET results during therapy (interim PET) are thoroughly revised. The possibility of a risk-adapted therapy based on early interim PET results (after 2 cycles of chemotherapy) is tested in several clinical trials.
PET in a long-term follow-up after treatment is indicated in HL risk groups only within 24 months. The risk groups include patients with a positive interim PET and patients with a residual massive mediastinal tumor after the end of therapy.
Positive PET in relapsed/progressed HL patients after a salvage therapy before an autologous stem cell transplantation is a poor prognostic factor.