Journal of Bone Research
Open Access

Abstract

FDG PET/CT for Initial Staging of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Is Diffuse Bone Marrow Uptake a Reflection of Disease Involvement?

Nathalie Keromnes, Pierre-Yves Le Roux, Adrian Tempescul, Ronan Abgral, Philippe Robin, Naëlle Lombion, Solène Querellou, Xavier Palard, Christian Berthou and Pierre-Yves Salaün

Objectives: Bone marrow assessment is a diagnostic challenge in staging diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Diffuse bone marrow uptake (BMU) can be observed on FDG PET/CT performed for initial staging of DLBCL, but remains difficult to analyze. The aim of this study was to evaluate the meaning of this diffuse BMU, and especially to assess its correlation with bone marrow involvement (BMI).

Methods: Patients who underwent FDG PET/CT for initial staging of DLBCL were analyzed. Diffuse BMU was assessed using a visual qualitative analysis according to liver uptake (grade 1=below liver uptake, 2=equal to liver uptake, 3=above liver uptake), and a semi-quantitative analysis, by measurement of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) in the sacral promontory. We compared the BMU with BMI, parameters of disease extension and inflammatory markers.

Results: 86 patients (median age 59, range: 19-91, 54 men, 32 women) were included. BMU grade was 1, 2 and 3 in 45, 28 and 13 cases respectively. Bone marrow was considered involved in 13 patients. No statistical correlation was found between diffuse BMU and BMI, using qualitative (p=0.594) or semi-quantitative method (p=0.116). Diffuse BMU visual grading was correlated with inflammatory markers: biological systemic symptoms (p=0.003), CRP (p=0.002) and fibrinogen (p=0.020).

Conclusions: Our study suggests that a diffuse BMU seen on FDG PET/CT at initial staging of DLBCL is not representative of bone marrow involvement, but can be due to inflammatory changes.