Positron emission tomography assessment of large vessel inflammation in patients with newly diagnosed, biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis: a prospective, case–control study
Abstract:Background Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is emerging as a promising imaging technique to detect large-vessel inflammation in giant cell arteritis (GCA). However, the lack of a standardised definition of arteritis based on 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake is an important limitation to the use of PET scan for diagnostic purposes. Objective To prospectively assess the intensity and distribution of FDG uptake at different vascular territories in patients with newly diagnosed GCA compared with controls.… Show more
“…In this setting, the noninvasive and early evaluation of the inflammatory process given by PET/CT represents an added value for rheumatologists [12]; the possibility to get baseline information about disease evolution would be surely as much important for clinicians.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The evaluation of the extent of the disease/involvement of extracranial sites 4. The evaluation of therapy response [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] On the basis of cumulated report accuracy, primary evaluation of LVV is now considered a major indication for 18 F-FDG PET/CT in non-oncological patients [20]. Some issues, however, have not been fully analysed.…”
This pilot study shows that, in LVV patients, the combined evaluation of the intensity and the extension of FDG vessel uptake at diagnosis can predict the clinical course of the disease, separating patients with favourable or complicated progress.
“…In this setting, the noninvasive and early evaluation of the inflammatory process given by PET/CT represents an added value for rheumatologists [12]; the possibility to get baseline information about disease evolution would be surely as much important for clinicians.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The evaluation of the extent of the disease/involvement of extracranial sites 4. The evaluation of therapy response [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] On the basis of cumulated report accuracy, primary evaluation of LVV is now considered a major indication for 18 F-FDG PET/CT in non-oncological patients [20]. Some issues, however, have not been fully analysed.…”
This pilot study shows that, in LVV patients, the combined evaluation of the intensity and the extension of FDG vessel uptake at diagnosis can predict the clinical course of the disease, separating patients with favourable or complicated progress.
“…Previous studies have reported the utility of the 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan in the assessment of disease activity in patients with LVV (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). Notwithstanding the lack of standardization and heterogeneous reference standards, 18 F-FDG PET/ CT has a substantial sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of both TAK and GCA (4,5).…”
Objective. To assess the findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of carotid arteries in patients with large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and to compare them with those observed using F-FDG uptake (P < 0.001) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) in the right carotid artery/mean SUV in the superior vena cava (P 5 0.001). When active vascular 18 F-FDG uptake ( ‡2) was considered the gold standard for defining vascular inflammation, carotid CEUS had a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 65-100) and a specificity of 92% (95% CI 72-99). The positive likelihood ratio was 12.5 (95% CI 3.3-47.2). Severe vascularization at CEUS and active vascular 18 F-FDG uptake were significantly more frequent in active disease according to Kerr's criteria compared to inactive (P 5 0.001 and P 5 0.002, respectively). Conclusion. Carotid CEUS vascularization grade and the grade of vascular inflammation on 18 F-FDG-PET were correlated in patients with LVV.
“…Prieto-González et al [42] recently found that FDG uptake by large vessels, including aorta, has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of GCA. They showed that the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVm) correlated with acute phase reactants and serum IL-6 levels.…”
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