Post-Transplant Positron Emission Tomography Using Fluorine 18-Fluoro-deoxyglucose ([18F]FDG-PET) Correlates with Outcome in Patients with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Undergoing High Dose Chemotherapy Followed by Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation (HDC/ASCT).

INTRODUCTION: Compared with standard chemotherapy, treatment of patients with relapsed aggressive lymphoma with high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation (HDC/ASCT) increases progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). [18F]FDG-PET (PET) has been demonstrated to be more precise than conventional radiologic imaging techniques for restaging after chemotherapy [Kostakogu et. al. Euro J Nucl Med. 2000]. However, the value of PET, particularly posttransplant PET to predict clinical outcome after HDC/ASCT has yet to be established.