title: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for Therapy Control in Vascular Graft Infections: A First Feasibility Study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of PET/CT with (18)F-FDG for therapy control in patients with prosthetic vascular graft infections (PVGIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-center, observational, prospective cohort study, 25 patients with a median age of 66 y (range, 48-81 y) who had a proven PVGI were included. Follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed at a median of 170 d (range, 89-249 d) after baseline examination. Two independent and masked interpreters measured maximum standardized uptake values to quantify metabolic activity and analyzed whole-body datasets for a secondary diagnosis (i.e., infectious foci not near the graft). The metabolic activity of the graft was correlated with clinical information and 2 laboratory markers (C-reactive protein and white blood cell count).
  
  
  RESULTS
  (18)F-FDG PET/CT had an impact on management in all patients. In 19 of 25 patients (76%), antibiotic treatment was continued because of the results of follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT. Antibiotic treatment was stopped or changed in 8% and 16% of patients, respectively. In 8 patients (32%), additional incidental findings were detected on follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT and had a further impact on patient management. Only in a subgroup of patients with PVGI and no other sites of infection was a significant correlation found between the difference in C-reactive protein at the time of baseline and follow-up (18)F-FDG PET/CT and the difference in maximum standardized uptake value (n = 11; R(2) = 0.67; P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (18)F-FDG PET/CT represents a useful tool in therapy monitoring of PVGI and has an impact on patient management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland lars.husmann@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Husmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bert-Ram
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Sah
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherrer
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Irene A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stolzmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rancic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hasse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D058017:Vascular Grafting / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: FDG; PET; prosthetic vascular graft infections; therapy control