Mediastinal Large Cell Lymphoma: Prognostic Significance ofCT Findings at Presentation and after Treatment

Abstract

Objective: Primary mediastinal large cell lymphoma is a distinctive subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Computed tomography (CT) has become an integral part of the evaluation of these patients at presentation and after completion of therapy. The purpose of this study is to identify CT features that predict increased risk of relapse. Methods: A retrospective study of patients with primary mediastinal large cell lymphoma who underwent CT scans of the thorax. Results: Tumor volume greater than 100 ml after completion of therapy was a statistically significant predictor of increased risk of relapse (p = 0.02, Fisher exact test). Other measurements (obtained at presentation and after completion of treatment) were not statistically significant in predicting relapse. Conclusion: CT plays an important role in predicting outcome in primary mediastinal large cell lymphoma. Large residual tumor volume after completion of treatment predicts an increased risk of relapse.

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma – metabolic and anatomical features in 18FDG-PET/CT and response to therapy

“…There have been attempts to determine the prognosis on the basis of their volume: in the previous century Smith et al . [ 26 ] demonstrated that a tumour volume greater than 100 cm 3 after completion of treatment is a statistically significant risk factor for recurrence. The same study showed that other information from the CT scans (obtained at the presentation and after completion of the first-line treatment) was not as important.…”