SEGHI Study: Defining the Best Surveillance Strategy in Hodgkin Lymphoma after First-Line Treatment

Abstract

The optimal strategy for early surveillance after first complete response is unclear in Hodgkin lymphoma. Thus, we compared the various follow-up strategies in a multicenter study. All the included patients had a negative positron emission tomography/computed tomography at the end of induction therapy. From January 2007 to January 2018, we recruited 640 patients from 15 centers in Spain. Comparing the groups in which serial imaging were performed, the clinical/analytical follow-up group was exposed to significantly fewer imaging tests and less radiation. With a median follow-up of 127 months, progression-free survival at 60 months of the entire series was 88% and the overall survival was 97%. No significant differences in survival or progression-free survival were found among the various surveillance strategies. This study suggests that follow-up approaches with imaging in Hodgkin lymphoma provide no benefits for patient survival, and we believe that clinical/analytical surveillance for this group of patients could be the best course of action.

How I Follow Hodgkin Lymphoma in First Complete (Metabolic) Remission?

“…The true positive rate of PET-CT was only 5%, rising to 13% if clinically indicated (p < 0.05). The largest study in this area was conducted by the GELTAMO group (n = 640) [29]. The patients were divided into five groups, who underwent clinical assessment (n = 202), CT every 3 months (n = 58), CT every 6 months (n = 232), PET-CT every 3 months (n = 43), or PET-CT every 6 months (n = 82).…”