Positron emission tomography in spinal infections.
Magnetic resonance imaging is the imaging method of choice for diagnosing infection of the spine in unoperated cases. 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography study is recommended to distinguish between spinal infection and common Modic change in patients with metallic implants and prosthetic replacements and for differentiating tuberculous from pyogenic spondylitis in ambiguous cases, reflecting the activity of the infection. Also, it seems to have a strong clinical impact in more than half of patients with infectious spondylitis, while it is superior to other imaging techniques in revealing residual disease after treatment and early response to therapy. New tracers as well as new hybrid modalities are under investigation.
Nuclear Medicine Division, PET/CT section, Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: ageorgakop@bioacademy.gr.
Alexandros
A
Georgakopoulos
3rd Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Spiros G
SG
Pneumaticos
Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos V
NV
Sipsas
Nuclear Medicine Division, PET/CT section, Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Second Department of Radiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General University Hospital "ATTIKON", Athens, Greece.
Sofia
S
Chatziioannou
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose; Imaging; Nuclear medicine; Positron emission tomography; Spinal infection