Correlation between FDG/PET, histology, characteristics, and survival in 332 patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia

Lorenzo Falchi, Michael J. Keating, Edith M. Marom, Mylene T. Truong, Ellen J. Schlette, Rachel L. Sargent, Long Trinh, Xuemei Wang, Susan C. Smith, Nitin Jain, Zeev Estrov, Susan O'Brien, William G. Wierda, Susan Lerner, Alessandra Ferrajoli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Richter syndrome (RS) is associated with poor outcome. The prognosis of patients with histologically aggressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), or HAC, has not been studied. We aimed to correlate 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoroglucose/positron emission tomography (FDG/PET) data, histological diagnosis, clinical characteristics, and survival in patients with CLL.Atotal of 332 patients with CLL were histologically classified as: 95 RS, 117 HAC, and 120 histologically indolent CLL (HIC). HAC and RS patients had higher maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), more frequent constitutional symptoms, poorer performance status (PS), lower hemoglobin and platelets, and higher lactate dehydrogenase and b-2-microglobulin. An SUVmax ≥10 strongly correlated with mortality (overall survival [OS], 56.7 vs 6.9 months in patients with SUVmax <10 vs ≥10). Survival of patients withRS and HAC was similar among patients with SUVmax <10 or ≥10. SUVmax ≥10, PS ≥2, bulky disease, and age ≥65 were independently associated with shorter OS. In patients undergoing both fine-needle aspiration and biopsy, the former proved diagnostically inadequate in 23%, 29%, and 53% of HIC, HAC, and RS, respectively. FDG/PET is a useful diagnostic tool in patients with CLL and suspected transformation. Patients with HAC show different characteristics and worse prognosis compared with those with HIC. Patients with different CLL phases, but similar SUVmax have similar outcome. Tissue biopsy should be preferred for diagnosing RS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2783-2790
Number of pages8
JournalBlood
Volume123
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Biostatistics Resource Group
  • Clinical Trials Office

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