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Date Published: 22/09/2026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.55046/vjrnm.64.1652.2026
Issue
No. 64 (2026)
Section
Medical Forum
How to Cite
Nguyen, Q. D., Le, N. H., Dinh, V. T., Nguyen, V. X., Le, C. T., & Nguyen, T. H. (2026). ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT IN THE ASSESSMENT OF LYMPHOMA BEFORE AND AFTER CAR-T CELL THERAPY: A CASE REPORT. Vietnamese Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 64, 115-119. https://doi.org/10.55046/vjrnm.64.1652.2026

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT IN THE ASSESSMENT OF LYMPHOMA BEFORE AND AFTER CAR-T CELL THERAPY: A CASE REPORT

Quang Duc Nguyen1, , Le Ngoc Ha2, Dinh Van Thuyet2, Nguyen Van Xuyen2, Le Cong Thuan2, Nguyen Trung Hieu2
1 Vinmec Hospital
2 Nuclear Medicine Center, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

Main Article Content

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has become an important treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. 18F-FDG PET/CT plays a role in assessing disease status before CAR-T infusion and metabolic response after therapy. This report aims to illustrate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in response assessment and follow-up in a patient with lymphoma treated with CAR-T therapy. We present the case of a 48-year-old woman with large B-cell lymphoma who experienced multiple relapses after chemoimmunotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The disease was refractory to Pola-BR, and CAR-T therapy was subsequently indicated. Pre-infusion PET/CT demonstrated multiple FDG-avid lymphoma lesions, consistent with active disease. Following CAR-T infusion, the patient developed grade 3 cytokine release syndrome, which was treated with tocilizumab and vasopressor support, followed by clinical recovery. PET/CT performed at approximately day +90 demonstrated a complete metabolic response with a Deauville score of 1. At approximately 18 months of follow-up, the patient remained clinically stable, and PET/CT continued to demonstrate a sustained complete metabolic response with a Deauville score of 1. This case illustrates the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in assessing disease status before CAR-T therapy, evaluating metabolic response after treatment, and monitoring the durability of response over time.

Keywords

Keywords: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, CAR-T cell therapy, large B-cell lymphoma, Deauville score, metabolic response.

Article Details

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