The role of 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Pediatric lymphomas (PL) are the third most common malignancy and account for 10% to 15% of all cancers in the pediatric age group. Accurate classification and staging are important for appropriate prognosis and treatment of pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma (PHL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (PNHL) and impact patient prognosis significantly. The role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and 18F-FDG PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in diagnosis, staging, localization of tumor radiotherapy, evaluation of treatment response and detection of recurrent tumors of PHL and PNHL is reviewed in this paper. The results of published 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT studies in pediatric patients with HL and NHL were promising for initial diagnosis, for the localization of tumors, for radiation treatment and for early assessment of treatment response. However, as the sample size of these original articles was often small and a unified study design standard is lacking, more data are needed to better specify the role of 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the management of PHL and PNHL. In conclusion, the 18F-FDG PET and 18F-FDG PET/CT appear superior to other imaging methods such as X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound, other nuclear medicine methods and bone marrow biopsy for the evaluation of pediatric lymphomas.