title: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography: a new explorative perspective.
abstract: 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) is a new functional imaging technique available for clinical and experimental use. 18F-FDG-PET studies can be used for screening, localization and follow-up of hypermetabolic processes including malignancies, infections and autoimmune processes. For several years it has been applied in oncological, cardiological and neurological patients, but nowadays an increasing number of studies favours its use in patients with autoimmune diseases including large vessel arteritis. From the experimental view, this technique has even become more important since the introduction of a small PET scanner for the use in animal models. This review focuses on technical aspects, clinical experiences and experimental and future perspectives of 18F-FDG-PET, with a special emphasis on large vessel vasculitis and other autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. michael.schirmer@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schirmer
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Calamia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klauser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moncayo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D023421:Models, Animal; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18