title: F-18 FDG PET/CT in relapsing polychondritis.
abstract: We report a case of relapsing polychondritis for which fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed increased FDG accumulation in all rib cartilages, as well as in the larynx, trachea, and major bronchi. Contrast-enhanced CT during PET/CT showed smooth tracheal and bronchial wall thickening with calcification and airway narrowing. After steroid therapy, clinical symptoms and laboratory data were improved and cartilaginous FDG accumulation had completely disappeared. FDG PET/CT is considered to be a powerful radiological tool to assess the disease activity of relapsing polychondritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ibaraki Prefectural Central Hospital, 6528 Koibuchi, Kasama, Ibaraki, Japan. motohiro.sato@gmail.com
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiyama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Syoujiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchiumi
authors.forename: Ikuta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaburagi
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18