PET for Waldenstrom – pro
Waldenstrom’s (WM)is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder characterized primarily by bone marrow infiltration and IgM monoclonal gammopathy. It should be considered a distinct clinicopathological entity rather than a clinical syndrome secondary to IgM secretion. Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a clonal disorder of B lymphocytes. This condition is considered to be lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma as defined by the Revised European American Lymphoma Classification (REAL) and World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
There is no literature on the usefullness of PET
for this disease, except a recent abstract, that concluded: “Over 60% of WM pts demonstrated FDG-avid disease when using FDG-PET scans, with the majority showing negative disease after therapy. This correlates with the 67.9% response rate. Positive PET images were inversely correlated to IgM level and directly related to elevated Beta-2 microglobulin and age. Significantly PET positive individuals may demonstrate a poorer prognosis. FDG-PET scans may prove an effective tool in the diagnosis and prognosis in WM.”
Owen RG, Treon SP, Al-Katib A, Fonseca R, Greipp PR, McMaster ML, Morra E, Pangalis GA, San Miguel JF, Branagan AR, Dimopoulos MA.
Clinicopathological definition of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia: consensus panel recommendations from the Second International Workshop on Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia.Semin Oncol. 2003 Apr;30(2):110-5.
Dimopoulos MA, Panayiotidis P, Moulopoulos LA, et al: Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia: clinical features, complications, and management. J Clin Oncol 2000 Jan; 18(1): 214-26
Dimopoulos MA, Galani E, Matsouka C: Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1999 Dec; 13(6): 1351-66
B. Harris, X. Leleu, R. Leduc, D. Yarar, A. Sam, M. Rourke, S. Chuma, A. Roccaro, I. J Clin Oncol 27, 2009 (suppl; abstr e19518)
Diagnostic and prognostic use of FDG-PET scans in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. Print this page