title: Diagnosis of deep septic thrombophlebitis in cancer patients by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scanning: a preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of the fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan in the diagnosis and management of deep septic thrombophlebitis (STP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective observational evaluation of FDG-PET in patients with cancer and suspected STP. Retrospective evaluation of patients with cancer and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) who underwent FDG-PET and extremity duplex scan (DS) was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong venous uptake was observed in FDG-PET of nine STP episodes versus 0 of 27 DVT episodes (P <.001). FDG-PET identified central vein STP in five patients, whereas DS and venography were negative in five and two of these patients, respectively. FDG-PET diagnosis of STP resulted in therapeutic changes in all patients. In four patients, follow-up FDG-PET confirmed resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cancer patients, FDG-PET identifies STP even in areas not optimally visualized by DS or venography, distinguishes STP from DVT, and leads to significant therapeutic changes.
authors.affiliation: Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, 72205, USA.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: Rola
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atoui
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Tahsine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mahfouz
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tricot
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barlogie
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anaissie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18