Usefulness of F-18 FDG PET/CT in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma: disease extent and treatment response evaluation

Diagnosis and management of cutaneous lymphomas and lymphoid proliferations in children, adolescents and young adults (CAYA)

Cutaneous lymphomas and lymphoid proliferations (LPD) in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplasms that present formidable diagnostic challenges to clinicians and pathologists alike. Although rare overall, cutaneous lymphomas/LPD occur in real-world settings and awareness of the differential diagnosis, potential complications, and various therapeutic approaches will help ensure the optimal diagnostic work-up and clinical management. Lymphomas/LPD involving the skin can occur as primary cutaneous disease in a patient that characteristically has lymphoma/LPD confined to the skin, or as secondary involvement in patients with systemic disease. This review will comprehensively summarize both primary cutaneous lymphomas/LPD that occur in the CAYA population as well as those CAYA systemic lymphomas/LPD with propensity for secondary cutaneous involvement. Focus on the most common primary entities occurring in CAYA will include lymphomatoid papulosis, primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, and hydroa vacciniforme lymphoproliferative disorder.

Recalcitrant Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T-Cell Lymphoma Responsive to Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that usually presents with tender subcutaneous nodules on the trunk and extremities. Immunosuppressive therapy is considered first-line treatment for SPTCL, while multiagent chemotherapy is used for SPTCL complicated by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Here, we report a 42-year-old Hispanic man that presented with a 5-year history of recurrent painful subcutaneous lesions in the absence of constitutional symptoms, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. A punch biopsy revealed an atypical lymphoid infiltrate in between subcutaneous adipose lobules. Lymphocytes expressed CD3, CD8, and Beta F-1 and did not express CD4 and CD56. Based on clinical and histologic findings, the patient was diagnosed with SPTCL. In addition, laboratory findings did not demonstrate any evidence of HLH. He was initially started on both prednisone and hydroxychloroquine with no improvement. A trial of cyclosporine and methotrexate yielded no clinical improvement. As the lesions failed to resolve after treatment with multiple immunosuppressive agents, romidepsin, an intravenous histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was initiated. After two cycles of romidepsin, the patient achieved complete clinical response. He continues to be in remission 12 months later with monthly maintenance therapy. This case illustrates that romidepsin can be useful as monotherapy for refractory SPTCL without HLH.

Report of Eleven Patients of Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T-Cell Lymphoma: Clinicopathologic Features, 18F-FDG PET/CT Findings and Outcome

Objectives

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a fairly rare subtype of primary cutaneous lymphoma. This study aims to investigate the clinicopathologic features, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings, and outcome of patients with SPTCL.

Methods

A retrospective single-center study enrolled 11 patients with SPTCL between August 2010 and March 2020. A total of 26 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed, and the initial and follow-up PET/CT imaging features, clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics, and outcome were analyzed.

Results

The male-to-female ratio was 1.2. The mean age at diagnosis was 24.2 years (age range: 13-48 years). Histopathological examinations revealed atypical T-lymphocyte rimming of individual subcutaneous adipocytes, mostly with CD2⁺, CD3⁺, CD4^-, CD5⁺, CD8⁺, CD56^-, T-cell intracellular antigen-1⁺, Granzyme B⁺, and high Ki-67 index. Multiple large skin ulcerations with a maximum diameter of 10 cm were observed in one of the 11 patients (9.1%, 1/11), and hemophagocytic syndrome was found in another one. At initial PET/CT scans, the lesions in all 11 patients showed increased uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG with a wide range of maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) from 2.0 to 14.9. The morphology of the lesions presented as multiple nodules and/or disseminated plaques mainly involving the trunk and/or limbs. Five patients had extracutaneous non-lymph node lesions with SUVmax of 5.6 ± 2.8 on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. No significant correlation between SUVmax and Ki-67 index was observed (r = 0.19, P > 0.05). Follow-up ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans in six patients showed complete remission of the disease in two, partial remission in three, and progressive disease in one. During the follow-up period, there was no death except for the patient with multiple ulcerations who died 4 months after diagnosis of SPTCL.

Conclusions

SPTCL may be a group of heterogeneous diseases with varying degrees of ¹⁸F-FDG uptake. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT demonstrates its usefulness in detecting disease extent, providing diagnostic work-up, staging, and evaluating treatment response of SPTCL. Multiple large skin ulcerations may be a factor of poor prognosis for patients with SPTCL.

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas other than Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome - Part I: Clinical and histologic features and diagnosis

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are defined as lymphomas with a T-cell phenotype that present in the skin without evidence of systemic or extracutaneous disease at initial presentation. CTCLs other than Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) account for approximately one-third of CTCLs and encompass a heterogenous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas ranging from indolent lymphoproliferative disorders to aggressive malignancies with a poor prognosis. The spectrum of CTCLs continues to broaden as new provisional entities are classified. Given the morphologic and histologic overlap among CTCLs and other diagnoses, a thorough clinical history, physical evaluation, and clinicopathologic correlation are essential in the workup and diagnosis of these rare entities. This article will summarize the epidemiologic, clinical, pathologic, and diagnostic features of CTCLs other than MF and SS.

Familial aggregation of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma: A case report of monozygotic twin brothers

RATIONALE

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare subtype of cutaneous lymphoma, which was first defined as a clinical entity in 1991 as a cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma preferentially infiltrating subcutaneous tissue. Herein, we report 2 patients of SPTCL who are a pair of twin brothers.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The disease afflicted the monozygotic twin brothers at different time with an interval period of 5 years. The older twin brother had disease onset at 27 years of age. In June 2012, he developed prolonged fever accompanied by subcutaneous nodules in the left upper arm and left chest due to unknown origin. The younger twin brother had disease onset at 32 years of age. In June 2017, the younger brother presented with repeated high fever for more than 10 days, accompanied by head distension.

DIAGNOSIS

On August 7, 2012, skin biopsy was performed on the lesion of left upper arm of the older twin brother, and then, a diagnosis of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma (SPTCL) was made. On June 19, 2017, the younger twin brother underwent whole-body fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for diagnosis. Soon afterwards, abdominal subcutaneous nodule resection and biopsy was performed on June 28, 2018, and the specimen was diagnosed as SPTCL.

INTERVENTIONS

For the older brother, a total of 14 systemic chemotherapy sessions were performed from August 16, 2012, to September 21, 2014. For the younger brother, a total of 9 systemic chemotherapy sessions were performed from July 14, 2017, to March 8, 2018, then he was switched to oral chemotherapy with chidamide twice a week for 6 months.

OUTCOMES

The older twin brother died in March 2015, the younger brother has recovered well and is no longer receiving any treatment LESSONS:: To the best of our knowledge, twin brothers both having this disease has never been previously reported. Moreover, some of the involved areas are also extremely rare detected by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography at initial stage. It is beneficial to people to gain some new understanding for SPTCL by this special case and some extremely unusual involved sites in the younger twin brother.

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare and poorly differentiated type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In this variant, the lymphoma cells infiltrate preferentially into the subcutaneous adipose tissue. It is an indolent type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and can be mistaken for panniculitis. Here, we describe the case of a 59-year-old female patient who presented with altered skin pigmentation with diffuse plaque-like patches in the skin around the thighs and legs. A skin biopsy revealed subcutaneous lobular panniculitis composed of lymphocytes, epithelioid histiocytes, and occasional giant cells admixed with atypical lymphoid cells, which were suggestive of cutaneous lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry showed CD3 positive, CD20 negative, CD8 positive, CD4 occasional cells positive, CD56 negative, and CD5 few cells positive, confirming the diagnosis of SPTCL. Therefore, cases with atypical and nonresolving dermatological lesions should raise a suspicion of SPTCL as diagnosis against other benign conditions.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: Clinical features, therapeutic approach, and outcome in a case series of 16 patients

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare primary cutaneous lymphoma of mature cytotoxic T cells. Initially, patients with SPTCL were treated with doxorubicin-based polychemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze clinical, biologic, immunophenotypical, molecular, imaging, treatment, and outcome data reflecting the current state of knowledge.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter study of 16 patients with SPTCL that was diagnosed between 1996 and 2016.

RESULTS

The female-to-male ratio was 1.7. The median age at diagnosis was 46.5 years. Patients presented with multiple nodular or plaque-like lesions preferentially affecting the legs and/or trunk. Histopathology typically showed a lobular panniculitis with individual adipocytes surrounded by atypical lymphocytes, usually with a CD3⁺, CD4^-, CD8⁺, CD56^-, TIA1 cytotoxic granule associated RNA binding protein 1-positive phenotype and high proliferation rate. SPTCL was associated with autoimmune diseases in 25% of patients, and with the development of hemophagocytic syndrome in 18% of patients. Oral steroids alone or in combination with low-dose methotrexate or cyclosporine A were the most common initial treatment, achieving a complete response in 85% of the treated patients. The median follow-up time was 14 months. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 85.7%.

LIMITATIONS

This was a retrospective study.

CONCLUSIONS

SPTCL has an excellent prognosis. Immunosuppressive agents can be considered for first-line treatment.

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography evaluation of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma and treatment response

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a very rare variant of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Currently, there is no standard imaging method for staging of SPTCL nor for assessment of treatment response. Here, we describe our use of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging and monitoring of treatment response in 3 cases of SPTCL. Primary staging by PET/CT showed that all 3 patients had multiple foci in the subcutaneous fat tissue, with SUVmax from 10.5 to 14.6. Involvement of intra-abdominal fat with high SUVmax was identified in 2 of the patients. Use of the triple drug regimen of gemcitabine, cisplatin and methylprednisolone (commonly known as “GEM-P”) as first-line therapy or second-line therapy facilitated complete metabolic response for all 3 cases. FDG PET/CT provides valuable information for staging and monitoring of treatment response and can reveal occult involvement of the intra-abdominal visceral fat. High FDG uptake on pre-treatment PET can identify patients with aggressive disease and help in selection of first-line therapy.

The role of PET-CT in radiotherapy planning of solid tumours

Background

PET-CT is becoming more and more important in various aspects of oncology. Until recently it was used mainly as part of diagnostic procedures and for evaluation of treatment results. With development of personalized radiotherapy, volumetric and radiobiological characteristics of individual tumour have become integrated in the multistep radiotherapy (RT) planning process. Standard anatomical imaging used to select and delineate RT target volumes can be enriched by the information on tumour biology gained by PET-CT. In this review we explore the current and possible future role of PET-CT in radiotherapy treatment planning. After general explanation, we assess its role in radiotherapy of those solid tumours for which PET-CT is being used most.

Conclusions

In the nearby future PET-CT will be an integral part of the most radiotherapy treatment planning procedures in an every-day clinical practice. Apart from a clear role in radiation planning of lung cancer, with forthcoming clinical trials, we will get more evidence of the optimal use of PET-CT in radiotherapy planning of other solid tumours.

The usefulness of F-18 FDG PET/CT-mammography for preoperative staging of breast cancer: comparison with conventional PET/CT and MR-mammography

Background

The objective of the study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of an integrated Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) PET/CT-mammography (mammo-PET/CT) with conventional torso PET/CT (supine-PET/CT) and MR-mammography for initial assessment of breast cancer patients.

Patients and methods

Forty women (52.0 ± 12.0 years) with breast cancer who underwent supine-PET/CT, mammo-PET/CT, and MR-mammography from April 2009 to August 2009 were enrolled in the study. We compared the size of the tumour, tumour to chest wall distance, tumour to skin distance, volume of axillary fossa, and number of meta-static axillary lymph nodes between supine-PET/CT and mammo-PET/CT. Next, we assessed the difference of focality of primary breast tumour and tumour size in mammo-PET/CT and MR-mammography. Histopathologic findings served as the standard of reference.

Results

In the comparison between supine-PET/CT and mammo-PET/CT, significant differences were found in the tumour size (supine-PET/CT: 1.3 ± 0.6 cm, mammo-PET/CT: 1.5 ± 0.6 cm, p < 0.001), tumour to thoracic wall distance (1.8 ± 0.9 cm, 2.2 ± 2.1 cm, p < 0.001), and tumour to skin distance (1.5 ± 0.8 cm, 2.1 ± 1.4 cm, p < 0.001). The volume of axillary fossa was significantly wider in mammo-PET/CT than supine-PET/CT (21.7 ± 8.7 cm³vs. 23.4 ± 10.4 cm³, p = 0.03). Mammo-PET/CT provided more correct definition of the T-stage of the primary tumour than did supine-PET/CT (72.5% vs. 67.5%). No significant difference was found in the number of metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Compared with MR-mammography, mammo-PET/CT provided more correct classification of the focality of lesion than did MR-mammography (95% vs. 90%). In the T-stage, 72.5% of cases with mammo-PET/CT and 70% of cases with MR-mammography showed correspondence with pathologic results.

Conclusions

Mammo-PET/CT provided more correct definition of the T-stage and evaluation of axillary fossa may also be delineated more clearly than with supine-PET/CT. The initial assessment of mammo-PET/CT would be more useful than MR-mammography because the mammo-PET/CT indicates similar accuracy with MR-mammography for decision of T-stage of primary breast tumour and more correct than MR-mammography for defining focality of lesion.

The role of Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in staging and restaging of patients with osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to systematically review the role of positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) with Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with osteosarcoma (OS).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search of published studies through October 10(th), 2012 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases regarding whole-body FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT in patients with OS was performed.

RESULTS

We identified 13 studies including 289 patients with OS. With regard to the staging and restaging of OS, the diagnostic performance of FDG-PET and PET/CT seem to be high; FDG-PET and PET/CT seem to be superior to bone scintigraphy and conventional imaging methods in detecting bone metastases; conversely, spiral CT seems to be superior to FDG-PET in detecting pulmonary metastases from OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic imaging may provide additional information in the evaluation of OS patients. The combination of FDG-PET or FDG-PET/CT with conventional imaging methods seems to be a valuable tool in the staging and restaging of OS and may have a relevant impact on the treatment planning.