Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A new ray of hope!
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with median survival of 2-3 years. It is described as fibroproliferative rather than pro-inflammatory disorder with limited treatment options. IPF diagnostics and therapeutics are a hot topic of current research. We describe a case elaborating the utility of the whole body positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-(fluorine-18) fluoro-D-glucose (F-18 FDG) integrated with computed tomography technique in IPF. The area of most intense pulmonary F--18 FDG uptake corresponded to regions of honeycombing suggesting metabolically active disease amenable to pharmacologic intervention. Additional F--18 FDG uptake was seen in mediastinal nodes implying an extrapulmonary component of disease.
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Topiwala National Medical College and B. Y. L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Unnati
U
Desai
Radiation Medicine Centre (BARC), Tata Memorial Hospital Annexe, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Vinaya S
VS
Karkhanis
Radiation Medicine Centre (BARC), Tata Memorial Hospital Annexe, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Sandip
S
Basu
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Topiwala National Medical College and B. Y. L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Jyotsna M
JM
Joshi
Fluorine-18 fluoro-D-glucose; honeycombing; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; positron emission tomography/computed tomography