High 18F-FDG Uptake in synthetic aortic vascular grafts on PET/CT in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Graft infection is a serious complication to vascular surgery. The aim of this study was to assess (18)F-FDG uptake in vascular grafts in patients with or without symptoms of graft infection.


METHODS
In all 2,045 patients examined by PET/CT at our clinic, 16 patients with synthetic aortic grafts were identified and reevaluated for (18)F-FDG accumulation. Clinical and biochemical data were obtained from patient records.


RESULTS
High (18)F-FDG uptake was found in 10 of 12 grafts in the patients who underwent open surgery and in 1 of 4 grafts in patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair. On the basis of biochemical and clinical data, it was concluded that 1 of the 16 patients had a graft infection at the time of investigation.


CONCLUSIONS
(18)F-FDG uptake in vascular grafts was found in the vast majority of patients without graft infection. The risk of a false-positive diagnosis of graft infection by (18)F-FDG PET/CT is evident.
Wassélius
Johan
J
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. johan.wasselius@karolinska.se
Malmstedt
Jonas
J
Kalin
Bo
B
Larsson
Stig
S
Sundin
Anders
A
Hedin
Ulf
U
Jacobsson
Hans
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000628:therapy; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000628:therapy; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18