Technical improvements in fluorine-18-FDG PET imaging of the abdomen and pelvis.
PET tumor imaging of the abdomen and pelvis is prone to artifacts due to urinary tract activity. A new technique has been developed to reduce such artifacts and enhance study interpretation.


METHODS
Thirty minutes after the injection of 18F-FDG, 500 cc 0.45% NaCl were administered intravenously over 30 min and a Foley catheter was placed in the bladder. At the start of imaging (60 min post-injection), furosemide was given (0.3 mg/kg). Prior to imaging the pelvis, the urinary catheter was clamped and saline was introduced retrograde into the bladder until full.


RESULTS
This technique has been used successfully in more than 130 patients, resulting in a marked improvement in study quality and tumor detection.


CONCLUSIONS
Hydration and administration of furosemide, along with placement of a Foley catheter in the bladder, have proven effective in eliminating image artifacts originating from the kidneys, ureters and bladder. Backfilling the bladder also provides a well-defined anatomic landmark for study interpretation.
Leisure
G P
GP
PET Facility, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Ohio, USA.
Vesselle
H J
HJ
Faulhaber
P F
PF
O'Donnell
J K
JK
Adler
L P
LP
Miraldi
F
F
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D003250:Constriction; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014513:Ureter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
D004232:Diuretics; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005665:Furosemide; D003847:Deoxyglucose