scholarly journals Role of Multimodal Imaging in Patients With Suspected Infections After the Bentall Procedure

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Sollini ◽  
Francesco Bartoli ◽  
Roberto Boni ◽  
Roberta Zanca ◽  
Andrea Colli ◽  
...  

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performances of multimodal imaging [i.e., white blood cell single-photon emission computed tomography/CT (99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT) and 18-fluoride-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT ([18F]FDG PET/CT)] in patients with suspected infection after the Bentall procedure, proposing new specific diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis.Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2019, we selected within a cardiovascular infections registry, 76 surgically treated patients (27 women and 49 men, median 66 years, and range 29–83 years). All the patients underwent molecular imaging for a suspected infection after the replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta according to the Bentall procedure. We analyzed 98 scans including 49 99mTc-WBC and 49 [18F]FDG PET/CT. A total of 22 patients with very early/early suspected infection (<3 months after surgery) were imaged with both the techniques. Positive imaging was classified according to the anatomical site of increased uptake: to the aortic valve (AV), to both the AV and AV tube graft (AVTG) or to the TG, to surrounding tissue, and/or to extracardiac sites (embolic events or other sites of concomitant infection). Standard clinical workup included in all the patients having echocardiography/CT, blood culture, and the Duke criteria. Pretest probability and positive/negative likelihood ratio were calculated. Sensitivity and specificity of 99mTc labeled hexamethylpropylene amine oxime-WBC SPECT/CT (99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT) and [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging were calculated by using microbiology (n = 35) or clinical follow-up (n = 41) as final diagnosis. 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC scintigraphy and [18F]FDG PET/CT findings were compared with 95% CIs by using the McNemar test to those of echocardiography/CT, blood culture, and the Duke criteria.Results: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC were 86, 92, and 88%, respectively, with a slightly higher sensitivity for tube graft infection (TGI) as compared to isolated AV and combined AVTG. Overall, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of [18F]FDG PET/CT were 97, 73, and 90%, respectively. In 22 patients with suspected very early and early postsurgical infections, the two imaging modalities were concordant in 17 cases [10 true positive (TP) and 7 true negative (TN)]. [18F]FDG PET/CT presented a higher sensitivity than 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC scan. 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC scan correctly classified as negative three false-positive (FP) PET/CT findings.Conclusion: Our findings supported the use of 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with suspicion infection after the Bentall procedure early in the course of the disease onset to confirm the diagnosis and provide a comprehensive assessment of disease burden through the proposed criteria.

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 720
Author(s):  
Valentin Pretet ◽  
Cyrille Blondet ◽  
Yvon Ruch ◽  
Matias Martinez ◽  
Soraya El Ghannudi ◽  
...  

According to European Society of Cardiology guidelines (ESC2015) for infective endocarditis (IE) management, modified Duke criteria (mDC) are implemented with a degree of clinical suspicion degree, leading to grades such as “possible” or “rejected” IE despite a persisting high level of clinical suspicion. Herein, we evaluate the 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnostic and therapeutic impact in IE suspicion, with emphasis on possible/rejected IE with a high clinical suspicion. Excluding cases of definite IE diagnosis, 53 patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for IE suspicion were selected and afterwards classified according to both mDC (possible IE/Duke 1, rejected IE/Duke 0) and clinical suspicion degree (high and low IE suspicion). The final status regarding IE diagnosis (gold standard) was based on the multidisciplinary decision of the Endocarditis Team, including the ‘imaging specialist’. PET/CT images of the cardiac area were qualitatively interpreted and the intensity of each focus of extra-physiologic 18F-FDG uptake was evaluated by a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measurement. Extra-cardiac 18F-FDG PET/CT pathological findings were considered to be a possible embolic event, a possible source of IE, or even a concomitant infection. Based on the Endocarditis Team consensus, final diagnosis of IE was retained in 19 (36%) patients and excluded in 34 (64%). With a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and global accuracy of 79%, 100%, 100%, 89%, and 92%, respectively, PET/CT performed significantly better than mDC (p = 0.003), clinical suspicion degree (p = 0.001), and a combination of both (p = 0.001) for IE diagnosis. In 41 patients with possible/rejected IE but high clinical suspicion, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and global accuracies were 78%, 100%, 100%, 85%, and 90%, respectively. Moreover, PET/CT contributed to patient management in 24 out of 53 (45%) cases. 18F-FDG PET/CT represents a valuable diagnostic tool that could be proposed for challenging IE cases with significant differences between mDC and clinical suspicion degree. 18F-FDG PET/CT allows a binary diagnosis (definite or rejected IE) by removing uncertain diagnostic situations, thus improving patient therapeutic management.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Randa Hossein Abdallah ◽  
Samer Malak Botros ◽  
Amal Ibrahim Ahmed Othman ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim Aboshanab

Abstract Background Malignant lymphomas [Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)] rank third in incidence, of all childhood cancers, Moreover, in adolescents (aged 15-19 years) the malignant lymphomas are the leading cause of cancer. Furthermore, as with many other cancers, the likelihood of an individual being diagnosed with lymphoma increases markedly with age, with the median age at diagnosis being 67 years. Aim of the Work To compare between F-18-FDG PET-CT and whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging MR protocol (DWIBS) for initial staging and post chemotherapy evaluation in patients with pathologically proven lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin). Patients and Methods The study is conducted on 32 patients with pathologically proven lymphoma to perform 18-F-FDG PET/CT either for pre-treatment initial staging or for evaluation of response to chemotherapy. A total of 22 had HD (69%) and 10 had NHL (31%). Staging PET/CT and WB-MRI/DWIBS were done at time of diagnosis in 19 of the 32 patients (59.4%), where immediate post-therapy PET/CT and WB-MRI-DWIBS were performed 13 patients (40.6%). Accuracy measures were calculated for PET CT and DWIBS. Results Accuracy measures confirm the higher sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT over DWIBS. Results for F-18 FDG PET/CT were clearly superior with statistically higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV & NPV (96.3%, 99.16%, 98.43%, 97.5% and 98.75%) compared to (83.95%, 97.91%, 94.38%, 93.15% and 94.74%) for DWIBS results respectively. Conclusion F-18-FDG PET-CT remains a cornerstone in the evaluation of malignant lymphoma patients; it has significant higher sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy compared to WB-MRI/DWIBS in HL and NHL patients, either in initial staging or in post therapy evaluation. WB-MRI/DWIBS in HL and NHL patients, either in initial staging or in post therapy evaluation. WB-MRI/DWIBS despite of its relatively longer acquisition time may provide a complementary tool for FDG PET CT.


Author(s):  
Ali R. Wahadat ◽  
Wilco Tanis ◽  
Laurens E. Swart ◽  
Asbjørn Scholtens ◽  
Gabriel P. Krestin ◽  
...  

Abstract Backgrounds Transcatheter-implanted aortic valve infective endocarditis (TAVI-IE) is difficult to diagnose when relying on the Duke Criteria. Our aim was to assess the additional diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission/computed tomography (PET/CT) and cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) in suspected TAVI-IE. Methods A multicenter retrospective analysis was performed in all patients who underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT and/or CTA with suspected TAVI-IE. Patients were first classified with Duke Criteria and after adding 18F-FDG-PET/CT and CTA, they were classified with European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria. The final diagnosis was determined by our Endocarditis Team based on ESC guideline recommendations. Results Thirty patients with suspected TAVI-IE were included. 18F-FDG-PET/CT was performed in all patients and Cardiac CTA in 14/30. Using the Modified Duke Criteria, patients were classified as 3% rejected (1/30), 73% possible (22/30), and 23% definite (7/30) TAVI-IE. Adding 18F-FDG-PET/CT and CTA supported the reclassification of 10 of the 22 possible cases as “definite TAVI-IE” (5/22) or “rejected TAVI-IE” (5/22). This changed the final diagnosis to 20% rejected (6/30), 40% possible (12/30), and 40% definite (12/30) TAVI-IE. Conclusions Addition of 18F-FDG-PET/CT and/or CTA changed the final diagnosis in 33% of patients and proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool in patients with suspected TAVI-IE.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Chirillo ◽  
Franco Boccaletto ◽  
Paola Pantano ◽  
Alessandro De Leo ◽  
Marta Possamai ◽  
...  

The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is sometimes difficult when there are discrepancies between blood cultures, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and clinical judgment. The aim of this study was to assess the incremental diagnostic value of 18 F-FDG-PET/CT in 45 consecutive patients (73% male, mean age 61 ± 26 years) with suspected IE and inconclusive tests at admission. In 28 patients (19 with a cardiac valvular (15) or nonvalvular (4) device) with blood cultures positive for germs typically involved in IE the initial TEE was negative or inconclusive. In 10 patients presenting with fever TEE identified cardiac lesion possibly related to IE (ruptured mitral chordae, thickened valve leaflet, thickened prosthetic annulus), but blood cultures were persistently negative. Finally, 7 patients had metastatic or embolic lesions and a predisposing cardiac condition, but TEE was negative. When previous unknown lesions detected by PET/CT were confirmed by succeeding examinations, they were considered true positives. When PET/CT was negative, it was compared with the final diagnosis that was defined according to the modified Duke criteria determined during a 6-month follow-up. Thirty patients had definite IE at the end of the follow-up, 3 had possible IE, and in 12 patients the diagnosis was rejected. Twenty-seven patients (60%) exhibited abnormal FDG uptake around the cardiac valves, and 12 (27%) had extracardiac accumulation. In 5 patients the initial negative TEE became positive a mean 5 ±7 days after PET/CT had been performed The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT were as follows (95% confidence interval): 87% (68% to 95%), 67% (38% to 87%), 84% (65% to 94%), and 71% (42% to 92%), respectively. Adding abnormal FDG uptake as a new major criterion significantly increased the sensitivity of the modified Duke criteria at admission (68% [53% to 82%] vs. 96% [88% to 99%], p = 0.01). This result was due to a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the number of possible IE cases. In conclusion PET/CT increases the diagnostic accuracy for IE in the subset of patients with possible IE and may help to manage a challenging situation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei Zhang ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Bingyang Bian ◽  
Fang Lin ◽  
Zining Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Whole body diffusion weighted imaging (WB-DWI) is commonly used for the detection of multiple myeloma (MM). Comparative data on the efficiency of WB-DWI compared with 18 F positron emission tomography computed tomography ( 18 F-FDG PET/CT) to detect MM are lacking. METHODS This was a retrospective, single-center study of twenty-two patients with MM enrolled from January 2019 to December 2019. All patients underwent WB-DWI and 18 F-FDG PET/CT. Pathological and clinical manifestations as well as radiologic follow-up were used for diagnosis. The overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of both methods were compared. The appearance diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of MM lesions and false-positive lesions were estimated. RESULTS A total of 214 MM bone lesions were evaluated. WB-DWI showed a higher overall accuracy than PET/CT (75.7% and 55.6%, respectively; < 0.05). However, for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, there were no significant differences for WB-DWI vs PET/CT (99.3% and 83.9%, 64.9% and 94.8%, 63.6% and 54.2%, 98.1% and 65.3%, respectively). The ADC value for MM lesions was significantly lower than that for false-positive lesions (p < 0.001). Receiver operating curve (ROC) curve analysis showed that the AUC was 0.846, and when the cut-off value was 0.745×10 -3 mm 2 /s, the sensitivity and specificity were 86.0% and 82.4%, respectively, which distinguished MM lesions from non-MM lesions. CONCLUSION WB-DWI may be a useful tool for the diagnosis of MM bone disease due to to higher overall accuracy and measurements of ADC values compared with PET/CT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Lindner ◽  
Jan Stenzel ◽  
Nicole Koslowski ◽  
Alexander Hohn ◽  
Änne Glass ◽  
...  

Abstract Schistosomiasis represents one of the most devastating worm parasitosis in the world. Current diagnostic methods are insufficient to determine the infection grade and the disease related organ damage. We herein investigated whether discrimination of infection grade and its correlation to liver damage could be accurately performed by multimodal imaging in a mouse model of Schistosoma mansoni infection. Therefore, groups of uninfected and infected mice underwent MRI and [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging. Anatomical MRI images were used for liver volumetry and for quantification of hepatic granulomas. For PET/CT images a volume of interest based analyses were employed to calculate the [18F]FDG uptake in liver, portal vein, spleen and abdomen. Herein, we demonstrate that the combined use of [18F]FDG-PET/CT and MRI represents an appropriate diagnostic tool for Schistosoma mansoni infection, but fails to discriminate the infection grade and the linked organ damage. Only the splenic [18F]FDG uptake in the 25 cercariae group (5.68 ± 0.90%ID/cc) and 50 cercariae group (4.98 ± 1.43%ID/cc) was significantly higher compared to the control group (2.13 ± 0.69%ID/cc). Nevertheless, future multimodal imaging studies with new radiopharmaceuticals could build a highly sensitive and specific basis for the diagnosis and evaluation of organ damage of schistosomiasis.


Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 715
Author(s):  
Fabienne G. Ropers ◽  
Robin M. P. van Mossevelde ◽  
Chantal P. Bleeker-Rovers ◽  
Floris H. P. van Velden ◽  
Danielle M. E. van Assema ◽  
...  

[18F]-FDG-PET/CT ([18F]-fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT)) is increasingly used as a diagnostic tool in suspected infectious or inflammatory conditions. Studies on the value of FDG-PET/CT in children are scarce. This study assesses the role of FDG-PET/CT in suspected infection or inflammation in children. In this multicenter cohort study, 64 scans in 59 children with suspected infection or inflammation were selected from 452 pediatric FDG-PET/CT scans, performed in five hospitals between January 2016 and August 2017. Main outcomes were diagnostic information provided by FDG-PET/CT for diagnostic scans and impact on clinical management for follow-up scans. Of these 64 scans, 50 were performed for primary diagnosis and 14 to monitor disease activity. Of the positive diagnostic scans, 23/27 (85%) contributed to establishing a diagnosis. Of the negative diagnostic scans, 8/21 (38%) contributed to the final diagnosis by narrowing the differential or by providing information on the disease manifestation. In all follow-up scans, FDG-PET/CT results guided management decisions. CRP was significantly higher in positive scans than in negative scans (p = 0.004). In 6% of diagnostic scans, relevant incidental findings were identified. In conclusion, FDG-PET/CT performed in children with suspected infection or inflammation resulted in information that contributed to the final diagnosis or helped to guide management decisions in the majority of cases. Prospective studies assessing the impact of FDG-PET/CT results on diagnosis and patient management using a structured diagnostic protocol are feasible and necessary.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1581
Author(s):  
Corinna Altini ◽  
Valentina Lavelli ◽  
Artor Niccoli-Asabella ◽  
Angela Sardaro ◽  
Alessia Branca ◽  
...  

Spondylodiscitis is a spine infection for which a diagnosis by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the most appropriate imaging technique. The aim of this study was to compare the role of an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and an MRI in this field. For 56 patients with suspected spondylodiscitis for whom MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were performed, we retrospectively analyzed the results. Cohen’s κ was applied to evaluate the agreement between the two techniques in all patients and in subgroups with a different number of spinal districts analyzed by the MRI. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were also evaluated. The agreements of the 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI in the evaluation of the entire population, whole-spine MRI, and two-districts MRI were moderate (κ = 0.456, κ = 0.432, and κ = 0.429, respectively). In patients for whom one-district MRI was performed, 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI were both positive and completely concordant (κ = 1). We also separately evaluated patients with suspected spondylodiscitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis for whom the MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were always concordant excepting in 2 of the 18 (11%) patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT were 100%, 60%, 97%, and 92%, 100%, and 94%, respectively. Our results confirmed the 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnostic value in the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis is comparable to that of MRI for the entire spine evaluation. This could be considered a complementary technique or a valid alternative to MRI.


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