Abstract:
To evaluate whole–body positron emission tomography fused with computed radiographic tomography (PET/CT) for staging patients with orbital lymphoma.
Two patients with biopsy proven orbital lymphoma were referred for 18–fluoro–2–deoxyglucose (FDG) whole body PET/CT imaging as part of their initial staging for lymphoma. PET/CT images were studied for the presence of increased glucose uptake above 2.5 SUV.
In both cases, PET/CT imaging revealed widespread metastatic lymphoma (Table). In case #1, PET/CT revealed abnormal uptake in numerous lymph nodes, as well as peculiar involvement of paravertebral and pelvic muscles (Figure). In case #2, PET/CT showed increased signal in multiple facial nodes, the lungs, as well as the mandible.
Several studies of primary systemic lymphoma have validated the efficacy of PET/CT for staging of malignant lymphoma. These studies have demonstrated increased sensitivity and specificity when compared to MRI, CT or PET alone. This case series found that PET/CT imaging is an extremely sensitive and specific modality for detecting and staging orbital lymphoma. PET/CT should be compared to alternative methods of metastatic surveys in a prospective comparative study.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • tumors • imaging/image analysis: clinical