Surveillance Imaging in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Background:Approximately 80% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) achieve a complete response (CR) after rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone therapy (R-CHOP) as first-line treatment but approximately 25% of patients with CR experience relapse. Disease recurrence generally occurs in the first 2 years following the first CR, but some patients relapse in the 5 years following the first CR. The optimal follow-up strategy for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been under consideration. There are limitations to surveillance imaging, including risk of increase in healthcare costs, and increased anxiety due to the possibility of recurrence. To assess the role of surveillance imaging in the rituximab era, we retrospectively analyzed DLBCL patients, treated with a uniform treatment regimen, who relapsed after achieving the first CR.