Introduction:

Imaging studies are essential for staging of lymphomas. The usage of functional imaging provided by positron emission tomography with 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose combined with computed tomography has fundamentally changed the concept of staging and re-staging of lymphomas. It constitutes a diagnostic test that has gained universal acceptance, especially after the publication and adoption of the Lugano guidelines.

Objective:

To analyze the importance of the images provided by positron emission tomography with 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose combined with computed tomography in current staging of lymphomas.

Methods:

A bibliographic review was carried out, in Spanish and in English, within the last decade. We used the search engines of Pubmed, Google, and SciELO. The information was collected and organized by chronologically following the origin of the innovations that facilitate the staging of lymphomas.

Information analysis and synthesis:

An analysis is carried out from the introduction of computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and the combination of both, to their application in the study of lymphomas. We described the evolution of lymphoma classification systems and the usefulness of positron emission tomography with 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose combined with computed tomography for the staging of lymphomas.

Conclusions:

At the present time, it is of great importance for a patient with lymphoma needing 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose to receive optimal management of his or her condition, including initial staging with positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography. This will allow to make the initial staging of the patient more precise, to optimize his or her treatment and evaluation of the implemented therapy, as well as to obtain a better prognosis, avoiding invasive studies.

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