title: [(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET in Large Vessel Vasculitis.
abstract: [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET is a noninvasive metabolic imaging modality based on the regional distribution of [(18)F]FDG that is highly effective in assessing the activity and extent of giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arteritis, respectively. Metabolic imaging using [(18)F]FDG-PET has been shown to identify more affected vascular regions than morphologic imaging with MRI in both diseases. The visual grading of vascular [(18)F]FDG uptake helps to discriminate arteritis from atherosclerosis and therefore provides high specificity. High sensitivity is attained by scanning during the active inflammatory phase. Thus, [(18)F]FDG-PET has the potential to develop into a valuable tool in the diagnostic workup of giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arteritis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, Basel CH-4031, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Walter