Research on the midterm efficacy and prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by different evaluation methods in interim PET/CT

Abstract Purpose To investigate the midterm efficacy and prognostic evaluation of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by three image analysis methods: International Harmonization Project (IHP), Deauville 5-Point Scale (5-PS) and Δ SUVmax criteria in 18F-FDG PET/CT. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 141 patients with DLBCL. All patients were given 3-4 cycles of chemotherapy and 18F-FDG PET/CT. According to three criteria, the patients were divided into negative and positive groups, respectively. Statistical methods were used to assess the midterm efficacy and prognosis factors. Results During the midterm follow-up, a total of 109 people achieved CR. Three methods showed statistically significant differences in OS and PFS for the interim PET/CT, and Δ SUVmax criterion was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of DLBCL patients. Conclusion In our research, IHP, 5-PS and Δ SUVmax criteria all had a significant predictive value, while Δ SUVmax criterion had more advantages in evaluating the midterm efficacy and predicting prognosis for patients with DLBCL in interim PET/CT. But it should be noticed that Δ SUVmax criterion needs more strict guidelines in multicenter trials. The optimal cutoff value of Δ SUVmax% we recommended was 81.54%, which helped to judge the midterm efficacy.