FDG-PET/CT for diagnosis and follow-up of vasculitis.
We report three cases of vasculitis evaluated by FDG-PET/CT. Vasculitis is defined as inflammatory changes and necrosis in the aterial wall. The patients presented with non-specific symptoms such as fever up or elevated inflammatory markers. FDG-PET/CT clearly demonstrated intense FDG uptake in vessel walls. A 72-year-old female patient with a one month history of pyrexia had abnormal laboratory data suggesting an inflammatory process. FDG-PET/CT was very useful for the diagnosis of vasculitis. Steroid therapy was introduced. Normalization of laboratory data and symptomatic improvement correlated with normalization of FDG uptake in the vessels.
Otsuka
Hideki
H
Department of Radiology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Morita
Naomi
N
Yamashita
Kyo
K
Nishitani
Hiromu
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013256:Steroids; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18