Background: Some studies evaluated the diagnostic performance of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET or PET/CT) for the detection of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). As there is no clear consensus about the diagnostic accuracy of these imaging methods, we performed a meta-analysis on this topic. Methods: A comprehensive computer literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases through December 2019 was performed. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR−), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT for detection of PTLD were calculated. Results: Five studies reporting data on the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT in 336 transplant recipients were included in the systematic review and bivariate meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for detection of PTLD were 89.7% (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 84.6–93.2%) and 90.9% (95%CI: 85.9–94.3%), respectively. Pooled LR+, LR−, and DOR were 8.9 (95%CI: 5.7–14), 0.13 (95%CI: 0.08–0.2), and 70.4 (95%CI: 35.4–140), respectively. A significant heterogeneity among studies was not detected. Conclusions: Despite limited literature data, 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT demonstrated good diagnostic performance for the detection of PTLD, but large prospective studies are needed to strengthen these findings.
The accuracy of positron emission tomography in the detection of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder
