title: Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography for diagnosis of infected aortic aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infected aortic aneurysms are diagnosed on the basis of a positive bacterial blood culture, clinical evidence of inflammation, and morphologic findings on computed tomography (CT). However, preoperative diagnosis is often difficult because blood cultures are frequently negative and patients can be asymptomatic. Because therapeutic approaches differ significantly, it is vital to determine whether an aortic aneurysm is infected prior to surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2007 to July 2012, we investigated 11 cases of suspected infected aortic aneurysm using fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT). In addition to contrast-enhanced CT examination, blood culture and histologic examinations were performed to aid diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with a final diagnosis of infected aortic aneurysms showed a maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of >4.46, whereas infection-free cases had an SUVmax of <2.59 (mean 6.5 ± 1.8 vs. 1.9 ± 0.5; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDG-PET/CT examination is useful in the diagnosis of infected aortic aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan. Electronic address: muraka3@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyasu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morikage
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samura
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Clinical Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimikazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18