Prognostic evaluation of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type(ENKTL) with 18F-FDG PET/CT

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission computed tomography(18F-FDG PET/CT) detection in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type(ENKTL). Methods: Forty-one pathologically confirmed ENKTL patients (from October, 2014 to June, 2021) received methotrexate, etoposide, dexamethasone and pegaspargase(MESA) regimen and pre-, mid-, and end-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were retrospectively analyzed. Deauville score (DS), maximal standardized uptake values (SUVmax) and the change of SUVmax (ΔSUVmax) were recorded for response assessment. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to assess the effects on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: The median follow-up period was 45 months (range, 3-64 months). The rates of 2-year OS and PFS were 83.0%±6.0% and 76.0%±7.0%, respectively. The rates of 5-year OS and PFS were 61.0%±12.0% and 53.0%±10.0%,respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that pre-treatment Ann Arbor stage (P=0.002), mid-treatment DS (P=0.021), mid-SUVmax (P