Impact of18F-FDG PET/CT on the staging and management of follicular lymphoma

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent lymphoma. Despite the evidence-based utilization of fluorine-18 fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET)/CT in aggressive lymphomas, the utility of PET in FL remains controversial and varies across different jurisdictions. The management of patients with FL differs from aggressive lymphomas and is usually reserved for patients with localized disease in whom long-term control may potentially be achieved by involved field radiotherapy, or for symptomatic patients with advanced-stage disease in whom systemic therapy is indicated. There is a growing body of literature supporting the use of PET/CT in initial staging of FL to guide management decisions. In this review, we summarize the existing literature and present cases from our experience to illustrate current knowledge on the potential role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in FL.