Detection of cardiovascular system involvement in Behçet's disease using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.
OBJECTIVE
Behçet's disease (BD) theoretically affects all sizes and types of vessels; however, there have been few reports describing the clinical efficacy of using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in patients with BD.


METHODS
Eight patients who were registered at the BD Specialty Clinic of Severance Hospital between 2004 and 2008 underwent FDG-PET scans to evaluate the cardiovascular presentations associated with BD. Medical records and FDG-PET images of the patients were retrospectively reviewed to determine the clinical significance of the cardiovascular findings.


RESULTS
The median quantitative FDG uptake index was 1.46 (range, 0.58-2.61). FDG uptake was detected in multiple pseudoaneurysms, aortitis and arteritis associated with aortic regurgitation, and aneurysmatic dilation of the sinus of Valsalva, atherosclerotic change of the proximal ascending aorta associated with aortic regurgitation, and multiple pulmonary artery aneurysms. The quantitative FDG uptake intensity was significantly associated with the ESR level.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET scans may have clinical value as a workup study for patients with BD who have cardiovascular presentations.
Cho
Sung Bin
SB
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yun
Mijin
M
Lee
Jae-Hoon
JH
Kim
Jihyun
J
Shim
Won-Heum
WH
Bang
Dongsik
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001025:Aortitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001167:Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18