• Marla B K Sammer, Barry L Shulkin, Adam Alessio, and Marguerite T Parisi.
• Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital, 98105, USA.
• AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 May 1; 196 (5): 1047-55.

ObjectivePerforming true whole-body FDG PET/CT is standard practice in pediatric lymphoma staging and follow-up. In adults, imaging is typically limited whole-body PET/CT, which has advantages over true whole-body PET/CT, primarily decreased scanning time and decreased radiation. We hypothesize that in pediatric lymphoma, limited whole-body PET/CT is sufficient for routine follow-up when disease on the true whole-body staging study is confined to the limited whole-body field of view (FOV).Materials And MethodsTrue whole-body PET/CT studies performed for staging and follow-up of pediatric lymphoma patients between November 2004 and July 2009 at two tertiary pediatric referral hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Abnormalities on the limited whole-body and additional true whole-body FOV were documented.ResultsOne hundred seventy patients met the inclusion criteria (752 examinations). At staging, disease involved the limited whole-body FOV without involving the additional true whole-body FOV in 150. Of the 150, 145 had routine follow-up (508 examinations). In these patients, no new (18)F-FDG-avid disease was identified outside of the limited whole-body FOV on routine follow-up (positive predictive value, 0%, 95% CI, 0-0.02).ConclusionThe limited whole-body PET/CT for routine follow-up when disease is confined to the limited whole-body FOV at staging is appropriate. Given its definite advantages over true whole-body PET/CT, it is preferred.

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