Image fusion between 18F-FDG PET and MRI in cardiac sarcoidosis: A case series.
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown etiology. It is distinguished by the presence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. This study demonstrates the use of image fusion between (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).



Seven patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis were retrospectively included. All patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and cardiac MRI.



On the MRI scan, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was observed in five patients. T2-weighted images revealed areas with an increased signal consistent with myocardial edema in two patients and with hypointensity suggesting fibrosis in one patient. Increased 18F-FDG uptake was seen in the myocardial wall in three patients, indicating active inflammation.



18F-FDG PET and MRI image fusion allows clinicians to obtain complete morphofunctional cartography in patients with sarcoidosis. Our data show that 18F-FDG PET/MRI image fusion imaging can be useful in the diagnosis of CS.
Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hanusch Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. zandieh.s@icloud.com.
Shahin
S
Zandieh
Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hanusch Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Reinhard
R
Bernt
Department of Nuclear Medicine with PET-center, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria.
Siroos
S
Mirzaei
Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hanusch Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Joerg
J
Haller
Department of Radiology, Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Klaus
K
Hergan
D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
18F-FDG PET; Magnetic resonance imaging; cardiac sarcoidosis; image fusion