Prognostic role of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters in MALT lymphoma

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an indolent lymphoma with good prognosis and variable fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) avidity. Many possible prognostic factors have been investigated with controversial results, but the possible prognostic role of F-18-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic impact of qualitative and semiquantitative baseline PET/CT parameters on outcome of MALT lymphoma. We retrospectively enrolled 161 patients with histologically confirmed MALT lymphoma who underwent F-18-FDG PET/CT before any treatment. PET images were qualitatively and semiquantitatively analyzed by measuring the maximum standardized uptake value body weight (SUVbw), lean body mass (SUVlbm), body surface area (SUVbsa), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times. Cox regression models were performed to determine the relation between PET/CT features and OS and PFS. Ninety-eight patients had positive F-18-FDG PET/CT showing F-18-FDG uptake (mean SUVbw, 10.1; SUVlbm, 7.2; SUVbsa, 2.7; MTV, 88.8; and TLG, 526); the remaining 63 were not F-18-FDG avid. F-18-FDG avidity was significantly correlated with tumor size and Ki-67 score. Relapse/progression of disease occurred in 47 patients with an average time of 40.2 months; death occurred in 12 patients with an average of 59 months. At a median follow-up of 62 months, median PFS and OS were 52 and 62 months, respectively. Advanced tumor stage and extragastric site were demonstrated to be independent prognostic factors for PFS, while only tumor stage for OS. Instead, PET/CT parameters were not related to survival, despite positive correlation at univariate analysis between MTV and TLG with PFS and positive PET/CT with PFS and OS. In conclusion, a 61% rate of PET avidity in biopsy-confirmed MALT lymphoma was found, and it was correlated with tumor size and Ki-67 score. Only tumor stage and localization were independently correlated with PFS and OS.