To determine whether a correlation exists between baseline tumor burden and early tumor progression based on imaging in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), researchers analyzed baseline imaging data (CT, MRI, PET) among patients with DLBCL or HL and compared imaging parameters among those with early progression (≤ 6 months after therapy onset).
Patients with advanced stage disease (stage II bulky, III, and IV) at baseline had a higher rate of early progression (47.1%) when compared with those with limited baseline disease burden (stage I and II; 32.9%). Occurrence of early progression did not appear to differ by baseline spleen size. “Therefore, precise staging along with accurate recording of baseline tumor burden have important prognostic and subsequent therapeutic strategy implications for prospective decision making in the era of precision medicine,” write the study authors.
