• Matthieu Pelletier-Galarneau and Terrence D Ruddy.
• Department of Medical Imaging, Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
• Curr Cardiol Rep. 2019 Mar 18; 21 (5): 34.

Purpose Of ReviewThis review aims to discuss the use of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET/CT) for diagnosis and management of patients with large-vessel vasculitis (LVV).Recent FindingsIncidence of LVV is likely underestimated, in part due to its non-specific symptoms. Nevertheless, early diagnosis of LVV is essential to initiate timely therapy in order to prevent vascular complications, such as stenoses and aneurysms. FDG PET/CT imaging has the ability to detect LVV during the acute phase, prior to edema and other vascular structural changes, with its high sensitivity for inflammatory activity. FDG PET/CT was shown to be a powerful prognostic marker by allowing identification of patients at risk of vascular complications. Additionally, preliminary data support the use of FDG PET/CT to follow therapy efficacy. FDG PET/CT allows early detection of inflammation, before morphological and irreversible vascular changes can be observed, allowing prompt diagnosis and treatment of LVV.

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