title: Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT for large vessel vasculitis : A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) or positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for patients with large vessel vasculitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a search in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, a meta-analysis was performed on the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT in patients with large vessel vasculitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of eight studies involving 400 subjects (170 vasculitis patients and 230 controls) were selected for meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT were 75.9 % (95 % confidence interval, CI 68.7-82.1) and 93.0 % (95 % CI 88.9-96.0), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were 7.267 (95 % CI 3.707-14.24), 0.303 (95 % CI 0.229-0.400), and 32.04 (95 % CI 13.08-78.45), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.863 and the Q*index 0.794, indicating good diagnostic accuracy. There was no evidence of a threshold effect (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.120, p = 0.776). When the data were limited to giant cell arteritis (GCA), the pooled sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT were 83.3 % (95 % CI 72.1-91.4) and 89.6 % (95 % CI 79.7-95.7), respectively; AUC was 0.884, and the Q*index 0.815, indicating modest accuracy with a small increase in diagnostic accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis of published studies demonstrates that 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT has good diagnostic accuracy for large vessel vasculitis and plays an important role in the diagnosis of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, South Korea. lyhcgh@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001167:Arteritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: Giant cell arteritis; Imaging; Sensitivity; Specificity; Takayasu arteritis