Pathologies of the lower abdomen and pelvis: PET/CT reduces interpretation errors due to urinary contamination.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of indeterminate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulations on positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (CT) images in patients with pelvic pathologies.


METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 536 focal FDG accumulations of 166 PET/CT examinations. A consensus reading of PET/CT images, clinical data, and other imaging tests was the standard of reference to assess sensitivities and specificities of PET and PET/CT. Frequencies of indeterminate findings and intraobserver agreement were evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
PET/CT improves the anatomic delineation and the correct assignment of physiologic and pathologic uptake.
Harder
Jens N
JN
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
Hany
Thomas F
TF
von Schulthess
Gustav K
GK
Goerres
Gerhard W
GW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18