The role of 18F-FDG PET in characterising disease activity in Takayasu arteritis.
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare, sporadic and chronic inflammatory arteritis, which predominantly affects the aorta and its branches. Diagnosis can be difficult and there are limitations to the current diagnostic work-up. By detecting areas of active glucose metabolism present in active vasculitis, imaging with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) could potentially have a role in the management of TA. Our aim was to assess this role by reviewing 28 (18)F-FDG PET scans performed on 18 patients suspected of having TA. All patients had full clinical and laboratory assessment, cross-sectional imaging and angiography, and 16/18 satisfied the American College of Rheumatologists' criteria for TA. (18)F-FDG PET achieved a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 100%, and negative and positive predictive values of 85% and 100% respectively in the initial assessment of active vasculitis in TA. We conclude that (18)F-FDG PET can be used to diagnose early disease, to detect active disease (even within chronic changes) and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Webb
Myles
M
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, W12 0HS, London, United Kingdom.
Chambers
Anthony
A
AL-Nahhas
Adil
A
Mason
Justin C
JC
Maudlin
Lucy
L
Rahman
Lucy
L
Frank
John
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18