| Abstract: |
Positive interim positron emission tomography (PET) scans are thought to be associated with inferior outcomes in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In the E3404 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma study, PET scans at baseline and after 3 cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone were centrally reviewed by a single reader. To determine the reproducibility of interim PET interpretation, an expert panel of 3 external nuclear medicine physicians visually scored baseline and interim PET scans independently and were blinded to clinical information. The binary Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) study criteria were based on modifications of the Harmonization Criteria; the London criteria were also applied. Of 38 interim scans, agreement was complete in 68% and 71% by ECOG and London criteria, respectively. The range of PET+ interim scans was 16% to 34% (P = not significant) by reviewer. Moderate consistency of reviews was observed: κ statistic = 0.445 using ECOG criteria, and κ statistic = 0.502 using London criteria. These data, showing only moderate reproducibility among nuclear medicine experts, indicate the need to standardize PET interpretation in research and practice. This trial was registered at www.clinicialtrials.gov as #NCT00274924. (Blood. 2010;115:775-777) © 2010 by The American Society of Hematology. |
| Keywords: |
prednisone; clinical trial; doxorubicin; cancer combination chemotherapy; rituximab; positron emission tomography; antineoplastic agent; clinical practice; reproducibility; reproducibility of results; carboplatin; computer assisted tomography; multiple cycle treatment; statistics; observer variation; etoposide; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; cyclophosphamide; vincristine; validation study; ifosfamide; monoclonal antibody; standard; b cell lymphoma; antibodies, monoclonal; professional practice; diagnostic agent; medical education; fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; fluorodeoxyglucose f18; positron-emission tomography; clinical evaluation; education, medical, continuing; scintiscanning; physician; nuclear medicine; large cell lymphoma; lymphoma, large b-cell, diffuse; medical information system; united kingdom; electrocorticography; chop protocol; kappa statistics
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