title: Chronological assessment of airway lesions in relapsing polychondritis by positron emission tomography.
abstract: A 40-year old woman presented with pyrexia, productive cough, and bilateral precordial pain. Positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) showed high, diffuse F-18 deoxyglucose accumulation in the tracheal, peribronchial, and bilateral costal cartilage. We diagnosed her with relapsing polychondritis (RP) based on McAdam's criteria. Airway lesions are a major prognostic indicator of RP, and so chronological assessment and control is essential. In this patient, PET-CT accurately reflected both the location and severity of the inflammation and helped to guide treatment decision-making and facilitated early detection of recurrence. However, its high cost is prohibitive to frequent use, making it necessary to comprehensively evaluate serum C-reactive protein levels, bronchoscopy, spirometry, and 3D-CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Machiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeo
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: Machiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D066186:Costal Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D016572:Cyclosporine; D008727:Methotrexate