Standardised uptake value of 18F‐FDG on staging PET/CT in newly diagnosed patients with different subtypes of non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Objectives: Positron emission tomography using 2‐fluorine‐18]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d ‐glucose (¹⁸F‐FDG) is considered to be the most beneficial imaging method for staging patients with non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The intensity of ¹⁸F‐FDG accumulation may be determined by calculating the so‐called standardised uptake value (SUV). The study aimed at assessing the benefit of SUV_max determination in staging ¹⁸F‐FDG PET/CT in untreated patients with NHL. Methods: One hundred and forty‐nine initial staging ¹⁸F‐FDG PET/CT scans performed in patients with NHL between January 2007 and August 2009 were assessed, and the SUV_max was determined. Results: The highest mean and median values of SUV_max were observed in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the lowest mean and median values were found in small lymphocytic lymphoma. The overlap in SUV_max < 10 between DLBCL and the other subgroups of NHL was very significant. Statistically, no correlation was found between the lactate dehydrogenase and SUV_max values. On the other hand, a correlation of the Ki‐67 proliferative index of tumour cells and SUV_max was revealed (r = 0.409, P < 0.001). The geometric mean of SUV_max in patients with Ki‐67 ≤ 60 and those with Ki‐67 > 60 was 8.8 and 14.3, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results confirm that SUV_max is not beneficial for making a more precise diagnosis in most patients with NHL. Correlation of SUV_max with the Ki‐67 values suggests that SUV_max might have a prognostic values in NHL.