title: (18)F-FDG PET/CT for the assessment of disease extension and activity in patients with sarcoidosis: results of a preliminary prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to prospectively investigate F-FDG PET/CT role for the assessment of sarcoidosis activity and extension in comparison with thoracic high-resolution CT (HRCT) and to evaluate the potential clinical impact of PET/CT findings. Secondary aim was to investigate the changes in cardiac FDG uptake related to the specific preparation before PET/CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled biopsy proven sarcoidosis patients consecutively referred for F-FDG PET/CT since January 2010. PET/CT was performed after a fat meal followed by 12-hour fasting and compared with thoracic HRCT results obtained in supine position and clinical follow-up. The impact on the clinical management was recorded.Patterns of cardiac FDG uptake of the study group were compared with a historical population in which PET/CT was performed following standard preparation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 28 patients were enrolled, and 35 PET/CT scans were reviewed. On a scan basis, PET/CT was concordant with HRCT in 16 (45.7%), detecting active disease in 10/16 and no signs of activity in 4/16. PET/CT data had a direct impact on management in 4/16.In 19 (54.3%) discordant scans, PET/CT finding was positive in 14 and negative in 5. PET/CT findings influenced the clinical management in 18/19 cases.Considering all scans, PET/CT information influenced the clinical management of 22 (63%) of 35.Our data suggest that cardiac FDG uptake may vary regardless of the preparation before PET/CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  F-FDG PET/CT was useful to assess sarcoidosis activity and extension and provided valuable information for the clinical management in a single-step examination. Additional data are needed to better ascertain the optimal patient preparation before image acquisition to improve sensitivity of heart lesions.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy. valentina.ambrosini@aosp.bo.it
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Ambrosini
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Zompatori
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Fasano
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Nanni
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Nava
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Rubello
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Fanti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18