Baseline PET radiomics outperforms the IPI risk score for prediction of outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The objective of this study is to externally validate the clinical positron emission tomography (PET) model developed in the HOVON-84 trial and to compare the model performance of our clinical PET model using the international prognostic index (IPI). In total, 1195 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were included in the study. Data of 887 patients from 6 studies were used as external validation data sets.

Meta-Analysis of the Test-Retest Repeatability of [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose Standardized Uptake Values: Implications for Assessment of Tumor Response.

Purpose: Currently, guidelines for PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) interpretation for assessment of therapy response in oncology primarily involve visual evaluation of FDG-PET/CT scans. However, quantitative measurements of the metabolic activity in tumors may be even more useful in evaluating response to treatment. Guidelines based on such measurements, including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Criteria and PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors, have been proposed.

Convolutional neural networks for automatic image quality control and EARL compliance of PET images.

Background: Machine learning studies require a large number of images often obtained on different PET scanners. When merging these images, the use of harmonized images following EARL-standards is essential. However, when including retrospective images, EARL accreditation might not have been in place.

Comparing lesion and feature selections to predict progression in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with FDG PET/CT radiomics features.

Purpose: Biomarkers that can accurately predict outcome in DLBCL patients are urgently needed. Radiomics features extracted from baseline [F]-FDG PET/CT scans have shown promising results. This study aims to investigate which lesion- and feature-selection approaches/methods resulted in the best prediction of progression after 2 years.

Dual time point imaging in locally advanced head and neck cancer to assess residual nodal disease after chemoradiotherapy.

Background: FDG-PET/CT has a high negative predictive value to detect residual nodal disease in patients with locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer after completing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). However, the positive predictive value remains suboptimal due to inflammation after radiotherapy, generating unnecessary further investigations and possibly even surgery. We report the results of a preplanned secondary end point of the ECLYPS study regarding the potential advantages of dual time point FDG-PET/CT imaging (DTPI) in this setting.

Proposed New Dynamic Prognostic Index for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: International Metabolic Prognostic Index.

Purpose: Baseline metabolic tumor volume (MTV) is a promising biomarker in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Our aims were to determine the best statistical relationship between MTV and survival and to compare MTV with the International Prognostic Index (IPI) and its individual components to derive the best prognostic model.

Methods: PET scans and clinical data were included from five published studies in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

3D Convolutional Neural Network-Based Denoising of Low-Count Whole-Body F-Fluorodeoxyglucose and Zr-Rituximab PET Scans.

Acquisition time and injected activity of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET should ideally be reduced. However, this decreases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which impairs the diagnostic value of these PET scans. In addition, Zr-antibody PET is known to have a low SNR.

The Impact of Semiautomatic Segmentation Methods on Metabolic Tumor Volume, Intensity, and Dissemination Radiomics in F-FDG PET Scans of Patients with Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Consensus about a standard segmentation method to derive metabolic tumor volume (MTV) in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is lacking, and it is unknown how different segmentation methods influence quantitative PET features. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the delineation and completeness of lesion selection and the need for manual adaptation with different segmentation methods, and to assess the influence of segmentation methods on the prognostic value of MTV, intensity, and dissemination radiomics features in cHL patients. We analyzed a total of 105 F-FDG PET/CT scans from patients with newly diagnosed ( = 35) and relapsed/refractory ( = 70) cHL with 6 segmentation methods: 2 fixed thresholds on SUV4.

Cost-Effectiveness of Shortening Treatment Duration Based on Interim PET Outcome in Patients With Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

Background: Guideline recommendations for diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treatment are shifting from long to short treatment duration, although it is still unclear whether shortening treatment duration does not cause any harm. As interim PET (I-PET) has high negative predictive value for progression, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of shortening treatment duration dependent on I-PET result.

Materials And Methods: We developed a Markov cohort model using the PET Re-Analysis (PETRA) database to evaluate a long treatment duration (LTD) strategy, ie 8x R-CHOP or 6x R-CHOP plus 2 R, and a short treatment duration (STD) strategy, ie 6x R-CHOP.

Diagnostic Performance of [F]FDG PET in Staging Grade 1-2, Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer.

Positron emission tomography using [F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG PET) potentially underperforms for staging of patients with grade 1-2 estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the diagnostic accuracy of FDG PET in this patient population. Suspect tumor lesions detected on conventional imaging and FDG PET were confirmed with pathology or follow up.

F-FDG PET Improves Baseline Clinical Predictors of Response in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The HOVON-84 Study.

We aimed to determine the added value of baseline metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and interim PET (I-PET) to the age-adjusted international prognostic index (aaIPI) to predict 2-y progression-free survival (PFS) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Secondary objectives were to investigate optimal I-PET response criteria (using Deauville score [DS] or quantitative change in SUV [ΔSUV] between baseline and I-PET4 [observational I-PET scans after 4 cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone administered in 2-wk intervals with intensified rituximab in the first 4 cycles [R(R)-CHOP14]). I-PET4 scans in the HOVON-84 (Hemato-Oncologie voor Volwassenen Nederland [Haemato Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands]) randomized clinical trial (EudraCT 2006-005174-42) were centrally reviewed using DS (cutoff, 4-5).

Aberrant patterns of PET response during treatment for DLBCL patients with MYC gene rearrangements.

Purpose: MYC gene rearrangements in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients are associated with poor prognosis. Our aim was to compare patterns of 2[F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) response in MYC + and MYC- DLBCL patients.

Methods: Interim PET/CT (I-PET) and end of treatment PET/CT (EoT-PET) scans of 81 MYC + and 129 MYC- DLBCL patients from 2 HOVON trials were reviewed using the Deauville 5-point scale (DS).

Potential and pitfalls of Zr-immuno-PET to assess target status: Zr-trastuzumab as an example.

Background: Zirconium-immuno-positron emission tomography (Zr-immuno-PET) is used for assessment of target status to guide antibody-based therapy. We aim to determine the relation between antibody tumor uptake and target concentration to improve future study design and interpretation.

Methods: The relation between tumor uptake and target concentration was predicted by mathematical modeling of Zr-labeled antibody disposition in the tumor.

F-FDG PET baseline radiomics features improve the prediction of treatment outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Purpose: Accurate prognostic markers are urgently needed to identify diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients at high risk of progression or relapse. Our purpose was to investigate the potential added value of baseline radiomics features to the international prognostic index (IPI) in predicting outcome after first-line treatment.

Methods: Three hundred seventeen newly diagnosed DLBCL patients were included.

PD-L1 PET/CT Imaging with Radiolabeled Durvalumab in Patients with Advanced-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Better biomarkers are needed to predict treatment outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with anti-programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors. PD-L1 immunohistochemistry has limited predictive value, possibly because of tumor heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression. Noninvasive PD-L1 imaging using Zr-durvalumab might better reflect tumor PD-L1 expression.

Quantitative Radiomics Features in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Does Segmentation Method Matter?

Radiomics features may predict outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Currently, multiple segmentation methods are used to calculate metabolic tumor volume (MTV). We assessed the influence of segmentation method on the discriminative power of radiomics features in DLBCL at the patient level and for the largest lesion.

Spatial concordance of DNA methylation classification in diffuse glioma.

Background: Intratumoral heterogeneity is a hallmark of diffuse gliomas. DNA methylation profiling is an emerging approach in the clinical classification of brain tumors. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of intratumoral heterogeneity on classification confidence.

Optimal timing and criteria of interim PET in DLBCL: a comparative study of 1692 patients.

Interim 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (Interim-18F-FDG-PET, hereafter I-PET) has the potential to guide treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) if the prognostic value is known. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal timing and response criteria for evaluating prognosis with I-PET in DLBCL. Individual patient data from 1692 patients with de novo DLBCL were combined and scans were harmonized.

The European TeleCheck-AF project on remote app-based management of atrial fibrillation during the COVID-19 pandemic: centre and patient experiences.

Aims: TeleCheck-AF is a multicentre international project initiated to maintain care delivery for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) during COVID-19 through teleconsultations supported by an on-demand photoplethysmography-based heart rate and rhythm monitoring app (FibriCheck®). We describe the characteristics, inclusion rates, and experiences from participating centres according the TeleCheck-AF infrastructure as well as characteristics and experiences from recruited patients.

Methods And Results: Three surveys exploring centre characteristics (n = 25), centre experiences (n = 23), and patient experiences (n = 826) were completed.

Repeatability of two semi-automatic artificial intelligence approaches for tumor segmentation in PET.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) is routinely used for cancer staging and treatment follow-up. Metabolic active tumor volume (MATV) as well as total MATV (TMATV-including primary tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis) and/or total lesion glycolysis derived from PET images have been identified as prognostic factor or for the evaluation of treatment efficacy in cancer patients. To this end, a segmentation approach with high precision and repeatability is important.