[18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for detection of bone marrow involvement in children and adolescents with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Purz S, Mauz-Körholz C, Körholz D et al.
Editor’s note: Initial staging of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has evolved over three decades, whereby staging laparotomy has long been abandoned and the recent introduction of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) into routine practice has allowed improved staging sensitivity. However, other than those with limited stage (IA/IIA) disease, a staging bone marrow biopsy (BMB) has remained a key, albeit invasive, staging intervention.
This study of pediatric HL addressed the question of whether FDG-PET might obviate the need for BMB in HL staging by accurately identifying the small number of cases (5–15%) with BM involvement.