European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging
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Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging · Jun 2021
Review Meta AnalysisDiagnostic value of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) can be difficult to diagnose. Whole-body [18F]FDG-PET/CT allows for a comprehensive evaluation of all relevant articular and extra-articular structures affected by PMR. We aimed to summarize current evidence on the diagnostic value of [18F]FDG-PET/CT for a diagnosis of PMR. ⋯ Significant [18F]FDG uptake at a combination of anatomic sites is informative for a diagnosis of PMR. [18F]FDG-PET/CT might be an important diagnostic tool in patients with suspected PMR. This study also highlights the need for adherence to published procedural recommendations and standardized interpretation criteria for the use of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in PMR.
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Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging · May 2021
Vasculitis changes in COVID-19 survivors with persistent symptoms: an [18F]FDG-PET/CT study.
Several patients experience unexplained persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 recovering. We aimed at evaluating if 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) was able to demonstrate a persistent inflammatory process. ⋯ Although the total vascular score was similar in the two groups, the target-to-blood pool ratio was significantly higher in three vascular regions (thoracic aorta, right iliac artery, and femoral arteries) in the recovered COVID-19 cohort than in controls, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 induces vascular inflammation, which may be responsible for persisting symptoms.
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Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging · Mar 2021
Increased incidence of interstitial pneumonia detected on [18F]-FDG-PET/CT in asymptomatic cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic in Lombardy: a casualty or COVID-19 infection?
The study aimed to compare the incidence of interstitial pneumonia on [18F]-FDG PET/CT scans between two 6-month periods: (a) the COVID-19 pandemic peak and (b) control period. Secondly, we compared the incidence of interstitial pneumonia on [18F]-FDG PET/CT and epidemiological data from the regional registry of COVID-19 cases. Additionally, imaging findings and the intensity of [18F]-FDG PET/CT uptake in terms of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were compared. ⋯ Significant increase of interstitial lung alterations at [18F]-FDG PET/CT has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the incidence curve of imaging abnormalities resulted in resembling the epidemiological data of the general population. These data support the rationale to adopt [18F]-FDG PET/CT as sentinel modality to identify suspicious COVID-19 cases to be referred for additional confirmatory testing. Nuclear medicine physicians and staff should continue active surveillance of interstitial pneumonia findings, especially when new infection peak is expected.
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Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging · Mar 2021
Clinical feasibility and impact of fully automated multiparametric PET imaging using direct Patlak reconstruction: evaluation of 103 dynamic whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scans.
Functional imaging by standard whole-body (WB) 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is an integrated part of disease diagnostics. Recently, a clinical dynamic whole-body (D-WB) FDG PET/CT scanning protocols has been developed allowing for quantitative imaging of tissue metabolic rate of FDG (MRFDG). It was the purpose of this retrospective study to evaluate whether MRFDG imaging is feasible in a clinical setting and whether it improves lesion detectability. ⋯ D-WB FDG PET/CT is feasible in a clinical setting and produces MRFDG images of good visual quality and superior lesion contrast. In addition, MRFDG images complement the standard SUV images providing better quantification and enhanced image reading. However, although MRFDG also reduced the number of false-positive findings, no additional malignant lesions were identified. The technique therefore appears to be best suited for select patient groups or possibly treatment response evaluation.
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Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Imaging · Mar 2021
[18F]-FDG PET/CT in oncologic patients with unsuspected asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Spain has been one of the most affected countries by the COVID-19 pandemic, being among the countries with worse numbers, including the death rate. However, most patients are asymptomatic, although they are very contagious. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence in oncological patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 that are asymptomatic for COVID-19 and at home and that undergo PET/CT for oncologic indications, nonrelated to COVID-19, finding in the PET/CT lung alterations that are suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ⋯ These results confirm that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is higher than suspected and that there are asymptomatic patients that are attending imaging departments to be explored for their baseline oncologic processes. In these patients, PET/CT allows an early diagnosis of COVID-19.