title: Role of integrated PET/CT with [¹⁸F]-FDG in the management of patients with fever of unknown origin: a single-centre experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a diagnostic challenge for the wide range of possible causes involved. The aim of our work was to evaluate the role of [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography ([¹⁸F]-FDG-PET/CT) in managing patients with classical FUO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four consecutive patients (16 women, eight men; mean age, 56.5 years) with a diagnosis of FUO based on routine investigations were retrospectively studied. All underwent [¹⁸F]-FDG-PET/CT, which was considered true positive when the result was in agreement with the final diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A final diagnosis was reached in 17 of 24 patients (vasculitis, n=5; autoimmune disorder, n=2; neoplasm, n=3; infectious disease, n=6; biliary microlithiasis, n=1). In the remaining seven cases, no final diagnosis was established. PET-CT was useful in identifying aetiology in 11 patients, showing a diagnostic yield of 46% (11/24). Among the 11 cases with a negative PET scan, 10 did not show a worsening of the clinical condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underlines the crucial role of [¹⁸F]-FDG-PET/CT in managing patients with FUO. If prospective trials on this topic confirm the present findings, PET/CT should be incorporated in the routine diagnostic work-up of patients with classical FUO.
authors.affiliation: Centro PET, IRMET SpA, Via Onorato Vigliani 89/A, 10138, Torino, Italy. e.pelosi@irmet.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skanjeti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18