title: (18)F-FDG PET/CT contribution to diagnosis and treatment response of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucormycosis is an infection caused by mycetes mucorales, emerged as a life-threatening infection associated with severe morbidity and high mortality. Conventional imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are usually performed to assess mucormycosis extension, but they may present insufficiencies in their performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 13 years old patient with diagnosis of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (RCM) who performed head MRI and [(18)F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) both for the infection spread assessment and for the early evaluation of response to systemic amphotericin-B treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case suggests that (18)F-FDG PET/CT could be considered as a valuable tool for the initial staging of RCM when compared with MRI and should be performed as soon as possible after the first clinical suspicion of this disease. In addition (18)F-FDG PET/CT may also be useful for the assessment of response to treatment.
authors: Nuclear Medicine Unit, D.I.M., University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 , Bari, Italy. artor.niccoliasabella@uniba.it.
authors: Corinna
authors: C
authors: Altini
authors: Artor
authors: A
authors: Niccoli Asabella
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Ferrari
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Rubini
authors: Franca
authors: F
authors: Dicuonzo
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Rubini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000666:Amphotericin B