Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) representing about 30%–40% of all lymphomas. About 40% of DLBL present as early stage disease, defined as one or two lymph node areas above or below the diaphragm that can be contained in one radiation field (1, 2).

In early stage DLBL (ESDLBL), tumor bulkiness and stage-adjusted international prognostic index (sa-IPI) are the main determinants of prognosis and treatment (3, 4). Patients with non-bulky ESDLBL are usually treated with abbreviated course of chemotherapy (three to four cycles) followed by radiotherapy or six cycles of chemotherapy, while those with bulky disease are usually treated with six cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (5, 6). Recently, the LYSA/GOELAMS, S1001 and FLYER trials established that in patients with non-bulky ESDLBL, achievement of complete metabolic response after 3–4 cycles of chemotherapy, obviated the need for consolidative radiotherapy (7, 8) or completing six cycles of chemotherapy (9).

However, definition of bulky disease remains variable. Tumor diameters from 5 to 10 cm were used in different clinical trials. For example, in the MabThera International group study, increasing maximum tumor diameter above 5 cm was associated with linear prognostic effect, and a cutoff point of ten centimeters was finally selected (10). However, most of the patients included had an advanced stage disease. Also, in the S1001, Southwest oncology group (SWOG) 014 and in the Groupe d’Etudes des Lymphomes de l’Adulte 93-4 trials, bulky disease was defined as tumor mass measuring more than 10 cm in maximal diameter (8, 11, 12), while in another study conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center, a cutoff point of 5 cm was used to define bulky disease (13). Finally, in the RICOVER-60 trial, 7.5 cm or more was used to define bulky disease (14).

Although the computed tomography (CT) plane used to measure tumor dimension to define bulky disease was not specified in clinical trials, radiologist often report it on transverse plane (15). In a study that evaluated the definition of bulky disease on CT planes in Hodgkin lymphoma, different cutoff points were found in coronal and transverse measurements (16).

Our study aims to evaluate the correlation between maximum tumor dimensions measured on CT scan transverse and coronal planes with outcomes and to evaluate the outcome of patients with bulky disease.

Patients with pathological diagnosis of DLBL; stage I or stage II disease; and treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone (RCHOP) at our center from 2012 until 2019 were identified and data were extracted retrospectively using our hospital database and electronic medical records. Different demographic, laboratory, disease related, and treatment related variables were collected. Staging was done according to Lugano classification (2). Patients were staged with CT scan from 2012 to 2016 (n = 52) and with CT and positron emission tomography–CT (PET-CT) scan after 2016 (n = 85).

CT scans were performed on Philips ICT helical scanner. Images were reconstructed at 3 mm intervals in the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Using calipers with measurements in centimeters, two independent board-certified radiologists reviewed pre-treatment CT scans and measured maximal tumor diameter on transverse and coronal planes in any dimension. Patients with no measurable disease on both planes were excluded.

Sa-IPI was calculated based on age, serum lactate dehydrogenase, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and stage (I vs. II or IIE), as previously described (4). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were defined as time from initiation of treatment till progression of disease, relapse, or death, respectively.

Response to initial treatment was determined using Lugano criteria (2).

We used the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify the largest dimension measured on either CT plane that best correlates with progression or death. Then, we compared the PFS and OS for patients with tumor dimension below the cutoff point on one CT plane but had a dimension more than the cutoff point on the other CT plane.

Survival outcomes were plotted using Kaplan–Meier method. The associations between different variables with PFS and OS was analyzed using log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test in the univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard models in the multivariate analysis.

Refining the definition of bulky disease on multidimensional CT scan in ESDLB is important in the view of the evolving data on elimination of radiotherapy and optimizing the number of chemotherapy cycles. To our knowledge, this is the first study that independently assessed the value of measuring tumor bulky in transverse and coronal planes in ESDLB.

In the era of multidimensional CT scan, measurement of tumor mass can be done on transverse, coronal or sagittal planes. Because three-dimensional or volumetric measurements are difficult to assess, and is rarely reported, measurements are often reported on the transverse plane only. In our study, a tumor dimension of >7.5 cm on either CT plane is the optimal cutoff point that correlated with progression and death. This is consistent with the results of RICOVER trial (14) and close to the 7-cm cutoff point used to define bulky disease, which is used to exclude patients with bulky disease in the most recent trails that used PET-CT adapted approach to eliminate radiotherapy in LYSA/GOELAMS trial (7) or to optimize the number of chemotherapy cycles in the FLYER trial (8).

In our study, about 10%–15% of patients with no bulky disease on either CT plane were found to have bulky disease on the other plane. This group had worse PFS and OS. This finding highlights the importance of measuring tumor dimension on either CT plane when deciding on the treatment approach in patients with ESDLBL.

Consistent with the results of LYSA/GOELAMS, S1001 and FLYER trials (7–9), our study showed that the use of CMT in patients with non-bulky ESDLBL was not associated with better survival outcomes and confirmed the excellent PFS outcomes with treatment of chemotherapy in this group (3-year PFS: 96.2%). Although PET-CT adapted approach was not used in our patients, our results support the current approach of omitting radiotherapy in this context.

The outcomes of our patients with bulky disease compares favorably to the results of a recent study from Finland (3-year PFS of 69.2% vs. 2-year PFS of 53%), possibly because of the relatively younger age of our patients (47 vs. 68 years), and the fact that higher percentage received radiotherapy (63.3% vs. 44.3%) (17).

In our study, bulky disease was the main predictor of worse PFS and OS in patients treated with chemotherapy only, independent of sa-IPI. Although patients with bulky disease treated with CMT, compared to chemotherapy only, had a better PFS and OS, the negative effect of bulky disease on PFS was still persistent in the group who received CMT, possibly indicating that addition of radiotherapy to this group may not be enough to optimize their outcomes. More studies would be necessary to identify the best treatment approach is these patients.

The positive impact of radiotherapy on survival outcomes in patients with ESDLBL was also reported in other studies (12, 13, 18, 19) but was not supported by the results of the UNFOLDER trial in patients with low age-adjusted IPI and bulky disease of more than 7.5 cm (20) and in a recent metanalysis (21). The role radiotherapy in the management of ESDLBL is being better defined in the era of PET-CT adapted approach.

Another special population to consider in ESDLBL is extranodal disease. Compared to patients with nodal disease, studies reported conflicting outcomes (22). Our study showed no difference in PFS or OS between nodal and extranodal disease, similar to the results of a recent SWOG analysis (23). On the other hand, another retrospective study reported that, in patients with stage I disease, extranodal disease had inferior outcomes (24).

The location of lymphadenopathy was reported to correlate with outcomes in ESDLBL. Although head and neck location had the best outcomes, abdominal or pelvic had the worst (25). Our study showed similar results, but the difference was not statistically significant, possibly because of the small sample size.

We admit that our study has important limitations including the retrospective design and the lack of data on cell of origin and double expressor and double hit classifications, because these tests were not routinely done in our center during the study period.

Bulky disease has a significant impact on survival outcomes in ESDLBL. Measurement of tumor dimensions on transverse and coronal CT planes may help in better identification of bulky disease and optimizing treatment approaches. In patients with bulky ESDLBL, the use of CMT, compared to chemotherapy only, was associated with better outcomes.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The studies involving humans were approved by Institution review board -King Hussein Cancer Center - Amman-Jordan. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation was not required from the participants or the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin in accordance with the national legislation and institutional requirements.

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.