Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in malignant lymphoma

The prognosis of patients with malignant lymphomas has improved over the last 30 years. Besides from improvements in therapy the better outcome of these patients has resulted also from the introduction of better diagnostic techniques detecting involved sites. Diagnostic radiology plays an essential role in assessing the extent of disease. Imaging studies are also important in assessing the response to treatment, evaluating complications of treatment and demonstrating relapse of disease. Imaging techniques that are frequently used include: conventional frontal and lateral chest radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scanning, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The choice of the techniques preferably used is based on patterns of dissentination of the disease and the diagnostic accuracy of the test in terms of sensitivity and specificity. However, factors such as patient acceptance, availability of expertise and equipment and cost may also play a role. Accurate staging and re-staging is critical to the selection of treatment in the interest of improved outcomes. Currently, about 2500 new cases of malignant lymphomas per annum occur in the Netherlands. Approximately 80% of cases are non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and the other cases are Hodgkin's disease (HD).There are considerable differences between HD and NHL as regards pathogenesis, pathobiology, clinical presentation, response to therapy and prognosis.

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