Febrile syndrome of unknown origin: Indications for18F-FDG PET/CT in inflammatory and infectious processes.
Fever of unknown origin is defined as a body temperature greater than 38.3°C lasting more than three weeks for which the cause could not be found within one week of hospital admission. More than 200 causes have been reported, and these can be classified into four categories: infections, inflammatory diseases, oncologic processes, and miscellaneous conditions. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques are used in 69.2% of cases and invasive techniques in 30.8%. Structural imaging techniques show the morphological changes from infectious, inflammatory, and tumor-related processes, but they do not allow the detection of the early changes brought about by these processes. The metabolic information provided by18F-FDG PET/CT has a promising role in these patients.18F-FDG uptake is based on the cells' use of glucose as a source of energy, so it can be observed in infectious, inflammatory, and tumor-related processes. The established non-oncologic indications for18F-FDG PET/CT are sarcoidosis, osteomyelitis, spondylodiscitis, fever of unknown origin, and vasculitis, which together account for more than 85% of studies.
CETIR-ERESA Unidad PET, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: jrgarcia@cetir.es.
J R
JR
García
D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
(18)F-FDG PET/CT; (18)F-FDG PET/TC; Fever of unknown origin; Fiebre origen desconocido; HIV; Infección; Infection; Inflamación; Inflammation; Miocardio; Myocardium; Sarcoidosis; VIH