title: Changes in (18)f-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the spinal cord in a healthy population on serial positron emission tomography/computed tomography.
abstract: We aimed to determine the changes in (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the spinal cord on two serial positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans in a healthy population. We retrospectively enrolled healthy people who underwent PET/CT twice for cancer screening. We excluded those who had degenerative vertebral disease, neurologic disease, or a history of a vertebral operation. The standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the spinal cord of each mid-vertebral body was obtained by drawing a region of interest on an axial image of PET/CT. For analysis, the cord-to-background ratio (CTB) was used (CTB=SUVmax of each level/SUVmax of L5 level). Differences in pattern, sex, age, and intervals of the two serial PET/CT scans were analyzed. A total of 60 PET/CT images of 30 people were analyzed. The mean interval between the two PET/CT imaging studies was 2.80±0.94 years. On the follow-up PET/CT, significant change was shown only at the level of the C6 and T10 vertebrae (p<0.005). Mean CTB showed a decreasing pattern from cervical to lumbar vertebrae. There were two peaks at the lower cervical level (C4-6) and at the lower thoracic level (T12). Neither sex nor age significantly affected CTB. The FDG uptake of the spinal cord changed significantly on follow-up PET/CT only at the level of the C6 and T10 vertebrae. This finding is valuable as a baseline reference in the follow-up of metabolic changes in the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Ho-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Byung-Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Sun-Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jung-Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Hee-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bom
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Jung-Kil
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Positron-emission tomography and computed tomography; Spinal cord