title: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of occult bacterial infections in children.
abstract: The role of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in the diagnosis and follow-up of infectious diseases has expanded recently. The aim of this report is to communicate our experience regarding its role in the diagnosis and management of occult bacterial infections in children. We present three pediatric patients with occult bacterial infections and negative conventional studies in whom (18)F-FDG PET/CT had a significant effect on clinical management. One patient had streptococcal endocarditis and prolonged fever. (18)F-FDG PET/CT identified pneumonia and osteomyelitis, and was also used to monitor therapeutic response. Other patient had a cerebrospinal shunt fluid infection. (18)F-FDG PET/CT was used to determine the exact localization of infection and establish the best surgical approach. The last patient had fever of unknown origin. (18)F-FDG PET/CT identified splenic abscesses, which were surgically treated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (18)F-FDG PET/CT should be considered as a useful diagnostic tool in children with suspected bacterial infections, if conventional diagnostic imaging techniques have failed to yield positive results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital La Paz, Paseo de Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain. teredelrosal@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: del Rosal
authors.forename: Walter A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Goycochea
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Méndez-Echevarría
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Fernández de Villalta
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baquero-Artigao
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coronado
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albajara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18