At CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) the Clinical Practice Guidelines Initiative (CPGI) seeks to improve patient outcomes in terms of survival and quality of life through the development, dissemination, implementation, and evaluation of guidelines for the management of common clinical scenarios encountered by cancer patients throughout the province. This clinical guide was approved by the Lymphoproliferative Disorders Disease Site Group (DSG).This document is intended as a guide to facilitate an evidence-informed, shared approach to the appropriate use of PET scan imaging in lymphoma in Manitoba. For this purpose, it may be used by qualified and licensed healthcare practitioners involved with the care of oncology patients, which may include (but is not limited to): physicians, surgeons, nurses, radiation therapists, and pharmacists at CCMB, CCPN sites, Uniting Primary Care Oncology Network (UPCON) clinics, and WRHA Community Oncology Program sites.# Disclaimer
Use of this clinical guide in any setting should not preclude use of the practitioner's independent clinical judgment; nor should it replace consultation with the appropriate oncology specialty when indicated (example: medical or radiation oncology, pharmacy, nursing, etc.). Clinicians are expected to apply the recommendations within boundaries of professional standards and scope of practice, and according to level of training and experience.
It is the responsibility of the practitioner to develop an individualized disease or symptom management plan for each patient under his/her care, and ideally this should take place within the context of an inter-professional team. The needs and preferences of the patient and the family should always be reflected in the plan of care. This clinical guide document should be viewed as an evidence-informed practice tool, and as such, it does not represent an exhaustive text on the appropriate use of PET scan imaging in lymphoma in Manitoba. Clinicians are advised to use it in their practice concomitantly with information from other evidence-informed sources. 

# Background Aim and Purpose
Development of this clinical guide was undertaken for the purpose of knowledge translation of the current standards in practice for routine use of PET scan imaging in lymphoma in Manitoba. The overall aim is to improve the standard of care received by this patient population, through application of evidence-informed interventions and promotion of best practices.

# Development Process
A multidisciplinary group of medical professionals agreed by consensus to adapt a report from an international conference and to establish a clinical guide for the use of PET scan imaging for patients with lymphoma in Manitoba.

# Patient Population and Healthcare Setting
The recommendations in this clinical guide are applicable to the care of patients with lymphoma. These recommendations are intended for use in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

# End-Users
This clinical guide is written for use by healthcare professionals providing care for the above mentioned patient population. Intended primarily for use by medical clinicians, the clinical guide may be of interest to trainees, physician extenders, allied healthcare staff, healthcare administrators, policy-makers and possibly members of the general public.

# Maintenance
At CancerCare Manitoba clinical guides are considered 'living' documents which require ongoing evaluation, review and updating. Re-evaluation of this clinical guide is planned for 2020. The working group will revise and update the document as needed, with any critical new evidence brought forward before this scheduled review.