FDG-PET in combination with serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) to predict prognosis in patients with head and neck malignant lymphoma

Objectives 18F FDG-PET has been widely applied for assessment of therapeutic response as well as initial staging and restaging in malignant lymphoma. While serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) has been known to be a prognostic parameter in patients with many types of lymphomas, no study has been reported to date on the relationship between FDG-PET and sIL-2R in the head and neck malignant lymphomas. The objective of the present study is to investigate the correlation of SUVs with sIL-2R and to evaluate clinical usefulness as a prognostic factor in patients with head and neck malignant lymphoma.

Methods We analyzed the correlation SUV max with sIL-2R value in 12 patients with head and neck malignant lymphoma. The clinical course of patients was followed for more than 2 years in order to divide those with poor and good prognosis groups.

Results Increased FDG uptake was observed in all patients, including 8 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 2 with malt lymphoma, and 2 with follicular lymphoma with the mean SUV max of 18.16, 8.21, and 5.17, respectively. The increased level of sIL-2R was found in 5 out of all patients (41.7%) with a rend towards higher in the poor prognosis group (p=0.057). The poor prognosis group shows significantly higher SUV than the good prognosis group (mean SUV max, 21.5 vs 9.22; p=0.033). Moreover, significant positive correlation was demonstrated between sIL-2R and SUV max (p=0.025).

Conclusions A comprehensive evaluation of sIL-2R and SUV max is clinically useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with head and neck malignant lymphoma