Key Lymphoma Subtypes Relevant
to ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT
Lymphoma Subtype FDG Avidity Role of PET-CT
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) Very high (+++) Staging, response assessment
(Deauville), surveillance
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) High (+++) Staging, interim/restaging (Deauville),
detection of transformation
Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma High (+++) Same as DLBCL; often young patients
with bulky disease
Burkitt Lymphoma Very high (+++) Baseline staging, high metabolic activity
Follicular Lymphoma (grades 1–3a) Variable (++/++++) Staging, transformation detection,
therapy response (esp. Grade 3a)
Mantle Cell Lymphoma Moderate (++/++++) Not routinely used for response, but
helpful in staging or bulky disease
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) High (+++) PET used for staging and response (varies
by subtype)
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) High (+++) FDG-PET useful in systemic and ALK+
subtypes
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas (advanced) Variable (+ to +++) Only useful in advanced or transformed
forms
Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma Low to moderate (+/++) Less consistent uptake; PET-CT has
limited utility
