18F-FDG PET/CT role in Burkitt lymphoma

Purpose Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma with unclear metabolic behavior at fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET/CT) and no shared criteria in treatment evaluation and prediction of outcome. The aim of this review was to analyze the published data about the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT in patients affected by BL. Methods A comprehensive computer literature search of the Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane library databases was conducted including articles up to November 2019 to find relevant published papers about BL and F-18-FDG PET/CT, focus on the possible role on staging, treatment response and prognostication. Results Our computer literature search revealed 88 articles. On reviewing the titles and abstracts, 75 articles were excluded because the reported data were not within the field of interest of this review. Finally, 13 articles were selected and retrieved in full-text version. From the analyses of these, the following main findings have been found: (1) BL can considered an F-18-FDG-avid lymphoma with an optimal diagnostic accuracy of F-18-FDG PET/CT; (2) F-18-FDG PET/CT seems to be better than conventional imaging in studying BL and detecting sites of involvement; (3) despite initial positive evidences, the role of PET treatment response evaluation and prognostication is yet unclear due to the low patients evaluated and controversial results. Conclusions BL is an F-18-FDG-avid lymphoma histotype and F-18-FDG PET/CT is the best imaging tool to stage patients affected by BL. Preliminary findings about the usefulness of FDG PET/CT features in the evaluation of treatment response and prognosis are available without strong evidence.