There seems to be little use for routine imaging post auto-HCT in people with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), save for limited cases where earlier detection and salvage with allogeneic HCT is possible, according to a retrospective study involving 160 individuals.

Participants—all with DLBCL—underwent auto-HCT, completely remitted after transplant, and then had surveillance imaging. 45 patients relapsed after day +100 post auto-HCT; 32 were detected via routine imaging, and 13 were spotted clinically. Among the results:

• Baseline patient characteristics were similar between the 2 groups.

• Median time from diagnosis to auto-HCT was 389 days in the imaging group, vs 621 days in the clinically-detected group.

• Median follow-up after auto-HCT was 2,464 vs 1,593 days, respectively.

• Median time to relapse post auto-HCT was 191 days vs 292 days, respectively.

• Median post-relapse survival was 359 days vs 123 days, respectively.

• Median post-transplant overall survival was not significantly different between the groups.

Citation: Epperia N, Shah N, Hamadani M, et al. Impact of routine surveillance imaging on the outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation. [Published online ahead of print August 29, 2016]. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. doi:10.1016/j.clml.2016.08.018.