Direct comparison of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose coincidence gamma camera tomography with gallium scanning for the staging of lymphoma

Background: The present study compared the performance of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) using a coincidence dual‐head gamma camera (FDG Co‐PET) with 67gallium scinti graphy (GS) in pretreatment staging of lymphoma. Methods: A total of 46 patients underwent FDG Co‐PET, computed tomography (CT) scanning and GS for pretreatment staging of lymphoma (40 newly diagnosed and recurrence) between November 1997 and December 1999. Results: Histological subgroups comprised low grade (8 patients), intermediate grade (25) high‐grade (3) non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease (10). Based on clinical assessment, CT scan findings and biopsy, 100 nodal sites and 15 extra‐nodal sites were deemed positive. FDG Co‐PET was superior to GS in nodal site positivity rate (97%vs 79%, P