title: Evaluation of Wegener's granulomatosis using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a relatively rare disease characterized by granulomatous necrotizing vasculitis that primarily involves small- and medium-sized vessels. Systemic findings observed on (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) have not been well reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the FDG PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with WG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen FDG PET/CT images obtained for 8 patients (2 men and 6 women) with WG were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 6 were performed for diagnosis, 2 for restaging and follow-up, and 5 for assessment of treatment efficacy. Maximum standardized uptake values (max SUVs) and visual analyses were used to interpret the FDG PET/CT images. In addition, nonenhanced CT findings obtained during FDG PET/CT were described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WG lesions of the upper respiratory tract and lung were more clearly detected by FDG PET/CT fusion imaging than by nonenhanced CT alone, and all of the active lesions showed decreased FDG uptake after treatment. In addition, FDG PET/CT can provide complementary information to indicate biopsy site based on FDG uptakes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDG PET/CT is a feasible modality for evaluating lesion activities, therapeutic monitoring, and follow-up of WG. Furthermore, biopsy sites of WG lesions may be determined by FDG PET/CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-cho, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. itoukimiteru@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Kimiteru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Ryogo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minamimoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Miyako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morooka
authors.forename: Momoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okasaki
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mimori
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18