2-Deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose uptake in intercostal respiratory muscles on positron emission tomography/computed tomography: smokers versus nonsmokers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) uptake in the intercostal respiratory muscles (ICM) of smokers versus nonsmokers using positron emission tomography (PET).


METHODS
Ninety-six whole-body PET/computed tomography (CT) scans were retrospectively reviewed; 61 studies were from smokers and 35 from nonsmokers. The ICM uptake from the lung apices to the level of the carina was visually scored with respect to FDG intensity as follows: 0 = uptake less than or equal to lung uptake; 1 = greater than lung, but less than mediastinal blood pool; 2 = equal to mediastinal blood pool; and 3 = greater than mediastinal blood pool.


RESULTS
In smokers, 30 out of 61 (49.2%) PET/CT scans had uptake that localized to ICM, compared to 3/35 (8.6%) studies in nonsmokers. Average ICM uptake was significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers (0.787 +/- 0.933 and 0.143 +/- 0.494, respectively; P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased FDG uptake in ICM is a physiologic pattern of uptake that is frequently seen and is more common in smokers.
Jacene
Heather A
HA
The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. hjacene1@jhmi.edu
Patel
Pavni P
PP
Chin
Bennett B
BB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18