title: Diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with fever of unknown origin: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published data on the diagnostic value of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/CT in the diagnosis of patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO).
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive computer literature search of studies published through 31 March 2012 on the use of F-FDG PET/CT in patients with FUO was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases. The pooled sensitivity of F-FDG PET/CT in patients with FUO on a per-patient-based analysis was calculated. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was calculated to measure the accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of patients with FUO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen studies comprising 595 patients with FUO were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of F-FDG PET/CT in detecting the cause of FUO was 85% (95% confidence interval 81-88%) on a per-patient-based analysis. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.88.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated high sensitivity for the diagnosis of patients with FUO. F-FDG PET/CT is an accurate technique in this setting, but the possibility of false-positive results should be kept in mind. This meta-analysis demonstrated the value of F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of patients with FUO.
authors: Medical Healthcare Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ruirui
authors: R
authors: Hao
authors: Leilei
authors: L
authors: Yuan
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Kan
authors: Chunlin
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Jigang
authors: J
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011786:Quality Control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18