title: Physiological Activity of Spinal Cord in Children: An 18F-FDG PET-CT Study.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, in a pediatric population, F-Fluoro-deoxy-glucose (F-FDG) metabolic activity of normal spinal cord and to assess the correlation with demographic, clinical, and environmental variables.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  F-FDG uptake of normal spinal cord is variable in children. The knowledge of physiological metabolism of spinal cord is essential to distinguish normal from pathological findings by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated F-FDG positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans from a total of 167 pediatric patients (97 males; 3.9-18.9 yr) divided into 4 age groups (0-4.9 yr, 5-9.9 yr, 10-14.9 yr, and 15-18.9 yr), excluding those submitted to previous or recent therapeutic procedures influencing spinal cord metabolism or with central nervous system diseases. Spinal cord was divided into 3 levels (C1-C7; D1-D6; and D7-L1), and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of each cord level was measured. Correlations between SUVmax and spinal cord level, age, body weight, sex, type of disease, and season were statistically assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median SUVmax was similar and significantly (P < 0.01) higher at C1-C7 and D7-L1 levels than at D1-D6 level and it significantly (P < 0.01) increased with age in all spinal cord levels. A positive and significant association between SUVmax and body weight, female sex, and Hodgkin lymphoma was found. No significant association with season was observed. By multivariate analysis, only weight and female sex remained significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of physiological F-FDG spinal cord activity in children is essential for a correct interpretation of positron emission tomography-computed tomography, especially in oncologic pediatric patients to avoid potential pitfalls.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
authors: *Institute of Nuclear Medicine and †Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Taralli
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Leccisotti
authors: Maria Vittoria
authors: MV
authors: Mattoli
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Castaldi
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: de Waure
authors: Agostino
authors: A
authors: Mancuso
authors: Vittoria
authors: V
authors: Rufini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18