title: Diagnosis of vascular prosthesis infection with FDG-PET/CT.
abstract: Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is on the verge of becoming an established imaging tool in the fields of clinical oncology, cardiology, and neurology. Because of the high glucose uptake of inflammatory cells, FDG scanning is an appropriate tool for use in tracing suspected inflammation or to evaluate infection. PET, although highly sensitive, often lacks the ability to define the precise anatomic location of abnormal FDG accumulation. The new PET/computed tomography (CT) technology provides precise registration of metabolic and structural imaging data in a single session. We report positive FDG-PET/CT findings in an infected vascular prosthesis 6 months after grafting. Our experience and a few available case reports support the hypothesis that FDG-PET/CT may have a promising role in future noninvasive diagnosis of infected vascular grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. petr.stadler@homolka.cz
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stádler
authors.forename: Otakar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bìlohlávek
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spacek
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michálek
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D020878:Device Removal; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18