title: Relapsing polychondritis on PET/CT.
abstract: Relapsing polychondritis is a rare multisystemic disease, which is characterized by recurrent inflammation of the cartilaginous structures. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with progressive respiratory distress. Chest Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated increased attenuation and smooth thickening of airway walls. Positron emission tomography/CT scan identified the multisystemic cartilaginous abnormalities that were recognized by an increased fluorine-18 deoxyglucose uptake on nasal cartilages, laryngeal cartilages, tracheobronchial tree, and rib cartilages. Positron emission tomography/CT is a useful tool to diagnose relapsing polychondritis, as the condition shows multisystemic cartilaginous abnormalities that can be identified by an increased fluorine-18 deoxyglucose uptake.
authors.affiliation: PET/CT Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Huaifu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jingwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones