The value of [18F]FDG-PET in the diagnosis of large-vessel vasculitis and the assessment of activity and extent of disease

Abstract

[(18)F]FDG-PET is highly effective in assessing the activity and the extent of large-vessel vasculitis. Visual grading was validated as representing the severity of inflammation. Its use is simple and provides high specificity, while high sensitivity is achieved by scanning in the state of active inflammation.

Editor's Choice – Management of Descending Thoracic Aorta Diseases

“…The diagnostic value of FDG-PET differs among the various inflammatory aortic diseases with a reported sensitivity ranging between 83% and 100% and specificity between 77% and 100%. 25 Development of PET in combination with computed tomography (CT) scanners has made it possible to combine functional and anatomic imaging, thereby making it possible for PET findings to be correlated with adjacent anatomical features. Although the availability of PET and PET/CT is limited, this modality may be used for diagnosis and follow up of aortitis.…”

Is 18F Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Useful to Assess Activity of Myositis?

“…The main reason for such discrepancies lies in the different methods used to define active disease. Owada, et al considered FDG-PET positive for active myositis if muscle FDG uptake was greater than liver uptake, according to the method proposed by Walter, et al to assess activity of large-vessel vasculitis 3 . In contrast, we calculated the ratio of the average FDG proximal muscle to liver maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax muscle/SUVmax liver) in patients with myositis and controls, respectively, and chose the cutoff value that yielded the best accuracy in discriminating patients from controls.…”

Kimura's Disease with Generalized LymphadenopathyDemonstrated by Positron Emission Tomography Scan

“…It is also known that PET can give false-positive results in many infectious/inflammatory conditions (9,10). This is possible because the cells are highly metabolic and therefore synthesize the radioactive glucose.…”