title: Recurrent surgical site infection of the spine diagnosed by dual (18)F-NaF-bone PET/CT with early-phase scan.
abstract: We report a case of a 31-year-old man who showed recurrently elevated level of the serum inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) after spinal operation. He underwent (18)F-flurodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and dual (18)F-sodium-fluoride ((18)F-NaF) PET/CT with an additional early-phase scan to find a hidden inflammation focus. Only mildly increased (18)F-FDG was found at the surgical site of T11 spine on (18)F-FDG PET/CT. In contrast, dual (18)F-NaF bone PET/CT with early-phase scan demonstrated focal active inflammation at the surgical site of T11 spine. After a revision operation of the T11 spine, serum CRP level decreased to the normal range without any symptom or sign of inflammation. Inflammatory focus in the surgical site of the spine can be detected with using dual (18)F-NaF bone PET/CT scan with early-phase scan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jai-Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hyok
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, 23-20 Byeongmyeong-dong, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, 330-721, South Korea. gareen@naver.com.
authors.forename: Sang Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012008:Recurrence; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: 18F-sodium fluoride; Inflammation; Positron emission tomography