Early detection value of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for drug-induced lung injury in lymphoma.

Recent studies have not only shown better prognosis of lymphoma with the advancement of therapeutic drug development, but also suggested more attention should be paid to drug-induced lung injury. Early diagnosis is critical for treatment of drug-induced lung injury. 18F-FDG-PET/CT, the standard imaging method for prognosis evaluation of Hodgkin's lymphoma and some non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, has also shown the potential for early detection of drug-induced lung injury in our study. A total of 579 lymphoma patients evaluated by 18F-FDG-PET/CT between June 2016 and March 2018 are studied retrospectively. Clinical and imaging characteristics are described in 32 patients (average age of 55), who were diagnosed with drug-induced lung injury. The incidence of drug-induced lung injury was 5.53% (32/579); most of the chemotherapy regimens include rituximab (90.63%, 29/32). Twelve patients demonstrated fever, cough, and dyspnea, and the other 20 had no significant symptoms. 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed multiple or diffused distribution of ground glass and patchy shadows, with increased FDG uptake in both lungs (SUVmax 2.28 ± 1.13, standardized uptake ratio-blood pool, SUR-BP = 0.59-4.07, median SUR-BP 1.32). SUVmax and SUR-BP in patients with symptoms (SUVmax 3.03 ± 1.33 and SUR-BP 2.12 ± 1.06) were significantly higher than in those without symptoms (SUVmax 1.84 ± 0.70 and SUR-BP 1.18 ± 0.48) (P = 0.002 for both SUVmax and SUR-BP). After temporary drug withdrawal, changing chemotherapy regimens, and corticosteroid usage, the pulmonary lesions in all patients were relieved, confirmed with chest CT. Drug-induced lung injury can be a co-finding during 18F-FDG-PET/CT assessment of lymphoma. With positive correlation between FDG uptake and symptoms, 18F-FDG-PET/CT provided value in early detection of lung injury in asymptomatic patients.