title: 18F-FDG PET/CT in Detecting Metastatic Infection in Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metastatic infection is a severe complication of bacteremia with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET combined with CT (FDG PET/CT) in children suspected of having metastatic infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of FDG PET/CT scans performed in children because of suspected metastatic infection from September 2003 to June 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. The results were compared with the final clinical diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FDG PET/CT was performed in 13 children with suspected metastatic infection. Of the total number of FDG PET/CT scans, 38% were clinically helpful. Positive predictive value of FDG PET/CT was 71%, and negative predictive value was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDG PET/CT appears to be a valuable diagnostic technique in children with suspected metastatic infection. Prospective studies of FDG PET/CT as part of a structured diagnostic protocol are needed to assess the exact additional diagnostic value.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Internal Medicine, †Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, and ‡Pediatrics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; §Department of Nuclear Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; and ‖MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Biomedical Photonic Imaging Group, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ilse J E
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kouijzer
authors.forename: Gijsbert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Blokhuis
authors.forename: Jos M T
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Draaisma
authors.forename: Wim J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oyen
authors.forename: Lioe-Fee
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: de Geus-Oei
authors.forename: Chantal P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Bleeker-Rovers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18