scholarly journals FDG-PET/CT and Auricular Cartilage Biopsy Are Useful for Diagnosing with Relapsing Polychondritis in Patients without Auricular Symptoms

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 956
Author(s):  
Saki Okuda ◽  
Yasuaki Hirooka ◽  
Tetsu Itami ◽  
Yuji Nozaki ◽  
Masafumi Sugiyama ◽  
...  

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent inflammation and destruction of cartilage. Although auricular chondritis is a characteristic finding in RP, it can be difficult to diagnose in the absence of auricular symptoms. A 64-year-old Japanese male was referred to our hospital with fever and respiratory distress. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed bronchial wall thickening and we suspected RP; however, he had no auricular symptoms and did not meet the diagnostic McAdam criteria for RP, so we used 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (FDG-PET/CT) to search for other cartilage lesions. This analysis revealed FDG accumulation not only in the bronchial walls, but also in the left auricle. Instead of a bronchial biopsy using a bronchoscope, we performed a biopsy of the left auricular cartilage, which is considered a relatively less invasive site. Even though the auricle was asymptomatic, the pathology results revealed chondritis. He was diagnosed with RP, and his symptoms rapidly improved with corticosteroid therapy. A biopsy of asymptomatic auricular cartilage may be useful in the diagnosis of RP. FDG-PET/CT is a powerful tool for the early diagnosis of RP, identifying inflammatory areas even in the absence of symptoms, and guiding the selection of appropriate biopsy sites.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunxiang Zeng ◽  
Minfang Li ◽  
Sheng Chen ◽  
Lin Lin ◽  
Shiyue Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a promising tool for diagnosing relapsing polychondritis (RP). However, its usefulness in assessing RP with airway involvement is unknown. Objective This study aimed to further evaluate and confirm the potency of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing RP with airway involvement and monitoring response to steroid-based therapy. Methods A total of 30 patients from a dedicated respiratory centre, diagnosed with RP in accordance with McAdam, Damiani or Levine criteria, were included in this study. All patients underwent baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 10 patients underwent second scans after 2.5–15 months of steroid-based therapy. Visual scores (VS) and maximal standard uptake values (SUVmax) were analysed. Results In the initial scan, 83.3% (25/30) of patients were found to have FDG uptake in more than one cartilage. The median VS and SUVmax in the cartilages were 3 (range, 1–3) and 3.8 (range, 1.9–17.9), respectively. Positive rates for PET/CT-guided biopsy in nasal, auricular, and tracheal/bronchial cartilages were 100% (5/5), 88.9% (8/9), and 10.5% (2/19), respectively, but the positive biopsy rate in the auricular cartilage was 92.3% (12/13) even without PET/CT assessment. Based on biopsy-proven sites, the sensitivity of PET/CT was 55.6%, and the specificity was 5.3%. Compared with the baseline scan, the second scan showed much lower median VS (2 vs 3, respectively; p < 0.0001) and SUVmax (2.9 vs 3.8, respectively; p < 0.001). Of 10 patients who underwent second PET/CT, 8 had complete therapeutic response, while 2 had partial response. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT assists in identifying multiple cartilage involvement in RP, but it seems neither a sensitive nor specific modality in diagnosing RP with airway involvement. Moreover, PET/CT has limited utility in locating biopsy sites and monitoring therapeutic response to corticosteroids.


Author(s):  
Nagarjuna Burela ◽  
Tej Prakash Soni ◽  
Nidhi Patni ◽  
JK Bhagat ◽  
T Senthil Kumar ◽  
...  

<p>Accurate tumor diagnosis is important in highly conformal techniques such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), which aims for high therapeutic ratio. We compared Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) (primary and nodal) delineated on <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([<sup>18</sup>F]-FDG-PET) scan to those delineated on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan and its impact on staging treated by IMRT.<strong> </strong>A total of 30 consecutive patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck were included in this study. FDG-PET and CECT scans were performed with dedicated positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) scanner in a single session as part of radiotherapy treatment planning for IMRT. After treatment with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, all patients were followed for one year. Three out of 30 patients were excluded from the final analysis, as there was complete remission in PET/CT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For remaining 27 cases, the primary sites were 17 oropharynx, 2 hypopharynx, 7 larynx and 1 unknown primary with secondary neck node. PET–CT resulted in changes of CT-based staging in 25% patients (up-staged in 3 and down-staged in 4). GTV delineated on PET vs CT scan was GTV-PET (primary) of 20.15 cm<sup>3</sup> vs GTV-CT (primary) of 18.75 cm<sup>3</sup>, <em>p</em> = 0.803; and GTV-PET (nodes) of 28.45 cm<sup>3</sup> vs GTV-CT (nodes) of 21.56 cm<sup>3</sup>, <em>p</em> = 0.589. The mismatch between two target volumes was statistically insignificant (<em>p</em> = 0.635 for GTV primary, <em>p</em> = 0.187 for nodes). The mean GTV-PET outside CT for primary was 5.83 cm<sup>3</sup>, and for node was 8.47 cm<sup>3</sup>. Median follow-up was 12 months. One-year loco-regional control was 92%. The target delineation of GTV can be improved with functional imaging [<sup>18</sup>F]-FDG-PET/CT.</p>


Author(s):  
Marco Tana ◽  
Silvio di Carlo ◽  
Marcello Romano ◽  
Massimo Alessandri ◽  
Cosima Schiavone ◽  
...  

Background:18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography (18-F-FDG-PET/CT) is getting wide consensus in the diagnosis and staging of neoplastic disorders and represents a useful tool in the assessment of various inflammatory conditions. </P><P> Discussion: Sarcoidosis is an uncommon disease characterized by the systemic formation of noncaseating granulomas. Lungs are the sites most often affected, and investigation with high resolution computed tomography and biopsy is essential to achieve a correct diagnosis. 18-F-FDGPET/ CT is effective in the assessment of pulmonary sarcoidosis by demonstrating pulmonary and extrathoracic involvement and findings correlate well with pulmonary function in patients affected.Conclusion:This review would illustrate the usefulness and limits of 18-F-FDG-PET/CT in the assessment of pulmonary sarcoidosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip E. Schaner ◽  
Ly-Binh-An Tran ◽  
Bassem I. Zaki ◽  
Harold M. Swartz ◽  
Eugene Demidenko ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring a first-in-humans clinical trial investigating electron paramagnetic resonance tumor oximetry, a patient injected with the particulate oxygen sensor Printex ink was found to have unexpected fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in a dermal nodule via positron emission tomography (PET). This nodule co-localized with the Printex ink injection; biopsy of the area, due to concern for malignancy, revealed findings consistent with ink and an associated inflammatory reaction. Investigations were subsequently performed to assess the impact of oxygen sensors on FDG-PET/CT imaging. A retrospective analysis of three clinical tumor oximetry trials involving two oxygen sensors (charcoal particulates and LiNc-BuO microcrystals) in 22 patients was performed to evaluate FDG imaging characteristics. The impact of clinically used oxygen sensors (carbon black, charcoal particulates, LiNc-BuO microcrystals) on FDG-PET/CT imaging after implantation in rat muscle (n = 12) was investigated. The retrospective review revealed no other patients with FDG avidity associated with particulate sensors. The preclinical investigation found no injected oxygen sensor whose mean standard uptake values differed significantly from sham injections. The risk of a false-positive FDG-PET/CT scan due to oxygen sensors appears low. However, in the right clinical context the potential exists that an associated inflammatory reaction may confound interpretation.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 559
Author(s):  
Talitha Bent ◽  
Derya Yakar ◽  
Thomas C. Kwee

Background: Biopsy of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-avid lesions suspected for malignancy remains an invasive procedure associated with a variety of risks. It is still unclear if the positive predictive value (PPV) of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is sufficiently high to avoid tissue sampling. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the PPV of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for malignancy in patients with a clinical suspicion of active malignant disease. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 83 patients who had undergone FDG-PET/CT within 60 days before CT- or ultrasonography-guided tissue sampling and whose request form for CT- or US-guided tissue sampling requested mutation analyses. The latter implies a high clinical suspicion of active malignant disease. The nature of each biopsied lesion was determined based on the results of the pathological analysis and/or clinical and imaging follow-up of at least 12 months. Results: In total, eighty-eight FDG-avid lesions were biopsied. The PPV of FDG-PET/CT for malignancy was 98.9% (95% CI: 93.8–99.8%). For patients with an oncological history, the PPV was 98.7% (95% CI: 92.9–99.8%), and for patients with no oncological history, the PPV was 100% (95% CI: 74.1–100.0%). There was no significant difference between the PPV of the group with and without an oncological history (p = 0.71). In two cases, an unsuspected malignancy was diagnosed. Conclusion: Although the PPV of FDG-PET/CT for malignancy in patients with a clinical suspicion of active malignant disease is high, biopsy remains recommended to avoid inappropriate patient management due the non-negligible chance of dealing with FDG-avid benign disease or unexpected malignancies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye Seong ◽  
Yong Hyu Jeong ◽  
Woon Ji Lee ◽  
Jun Hyoung Kim ◽  
Jung Ho Kim ◽  
...  

AbstractKikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is usually self-limiting, but prolonged systemic symptoms often result in frequent hospital visits, long admission durations, or missed workdays. We investigated the role of fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing KFD severity. We reviewed the records of 31 adult patients with pathologically confirmed KFD who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT between November 2007 and April 2018 at a tertiary-care referral hospital. Disease severity was assessed using criteria based on clinical manifestations of advanced KFD. Systemic activated lymph nodes and severity of splenic activation were determined using semi-quantitative and volumetric PET/CT parameters. The median of the mean splenic standardized uptake value (SUVmean) was higher in patients with severe KFD than those with mild KFD (2.38 ± 1.18 vs. 1.79 ± 0.99, p = 0.058). Patients with severe KFD had more systemically activated volume and glycolytic activity than those with mild KFD (total lesion glycolysis: 473.5 ± 504.4 vs. 201.6 ± 363.5, p = 0.024). Multivariate logistic regression showed that myalgia (odds ratio [OR] 0.035; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001–0.792; p = 0.035), total lymph node SUVmax (cutoff 9.27; OR 24.734; 95% CI 1.323–462.407; p = 0.032), and spleen SUVmean (cutoff 1.79; OR 37.770; 95% CI 1.769–806.583; p = 0.020) were significantly associated with severe KFD. 18F-FDG PET/CT could be useful in assessing KFD severity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa Mouminah ◽  
Austin J. Borja ◽  
Emily C. Hancin ◽  
Yu Cheng Chang ◽  
Thomas J. Werner ◽  
...  

Abstract Background 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is used in the clinical management of oncologic and inflammatory pathologies. It may have utility in detecting radiotherapy (RT)-induced damage of oral tissues. Thus, the aim of the present study was to use FDG-PET/CT to evaluate parotid gland inflammation following RT in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Methods This retrospective study included patients with HNC treated with photon, proton, or combined photon/proton RT, in addition to chemotherapy. All patients received FDG-PET/CT imaging pre-treatment and 3 months post-treatment. The average mean standardized uptake value (Avg SUVmean) and the average maximum standardized uptake value (Avg SUVmax) of the left and right parotid glands were determined by global assessment of FDG activity using OsiriX MD software. A two-tailed paired t test was used to compare Avg SUVmean and Avg SUVmax pre- and post-RT. Results Forty-seven HNC patients were included in the study. Parotid gland Avg SUVmean was significantly higher at 3 months post-treatment than pre-treatment (p < 0.05) in patients treated with photon RT, but no significant differences were found between pre- and post-treatment Avg SUVmean in patients treated with proton RT or combined photon/proton RT. Conclusion Our results suggest that photon RT may cause radiation-induced inflammation of the parotid gland, and that proton RT, which distributes less off-target radiation, is a safer treatment alternative.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Haghighat Jahromi ◽  
Donald A. Barkauskas ◽  
Matthew Zabel ◽  
Aaron M. Goodman ◽  
Garret Frampton ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Deriving links between imaging and genomic markers is an evolving field. 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography) is commonly used for cancer imaging, with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as the main quantitative parameter. Tumor mutational burden (TMB), the quantitative variable obtained using next-generation sequencing on a tissue biopsy sample, is a putative immunotherapy response predictor. We report the relationship between TMB and SUVmax, linking these two important parameters. Methods In this pilot study, we analyzed 1923 patients with diverse cancers and available TMB values. Overall, 273 patients met our eligibility criteria in that they had no systemic treatment prior to imaging/biopsy, and also had 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT within 6 months prior to the tissue biopsy, to ensure acceptable temporal correlation between imaging and genomic evaluation. Results We found a linear correlation between TMB and SUVmax (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, only TMB independently correlated with SUVmax, whereas age, gender, and tumor organ did not. Conclusion Our observations link SUVmax in readily available, routinely used, and noninvasive 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT imaging to the TMB, which requires a tissue biopsy and time to process. Since higher TMB has been implicated as a prognostic biomarker for better outcomes after immunotherapy, further investigation will be needed to determine if SUVmax can stratify patient response to immunotherapy.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1258
Author(s):  
Lu Han ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Lanbo Zhao ◽  
Xue Feng ◽  
Yiran Wang ◽  
...  

Backgrounds: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prognostic value of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) parameters in patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Methods: Studies that met the following criteria were retrieved from PubMed and Embase: patients treated with CCRT for LACC; FDG PET/CT scans performed before CCRT treatment; and a detected relationship between the parameters of FDG PET/CT and the prognosis of patients. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the overall survival (OS) or event-free survival (EFS). Results: In total, 14 eligible studies with 1313 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Patients with a high maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) have a shorter OS than those with a low SUVmax (HR = 2.582, 95% = CI 1.936–3.443, p < 0.001). Primary tumor SUVmax values (HR = 1.938, 95% CI = 1.203–3.054, p = 0.004) were significantly correlated with EFS, with a relatively high heterogeneity (I2 = 84% and I2 = 69.4%, respectively). Based on the limited data, the combined HR for EFS with the highest primary tumor total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) was 1.843 (95% CI = 1.100–3.086, p = 0.02) and 2.06 (95% CI = 1.21–3.51, p = 0.007), respectively. Besides, the combined HR for OS with the highest nodal SUVmax was 2.095 (95% CI = 2.027–2.166, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A high primary SUVmax has a significant correlation with the OS and EFS of patients treated with CCRT for LACC and may therefore serve as a prognostic predictor. Due to the limited data, to explore the correlation between survival and TLG, MTV, and nodal SUVmax, further large-scale prospective studies are needed.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 839
Author(s):  
Tzu-Chuan Ho ◽  
Chin-Chuan Chang ◽  
Hung-Pin Chan ◽  
Ying-Fong Huang ◽  
Yi-Ming Arthur Chen ◽  
...  

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several case studies demonstrated that many asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 underwent fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examination for various indications. However, there is a lack of literature to characterize the pattern of [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging on asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Therefore, a systematic review to analyze the pulmonary findings of [18F]FDG PET/CT on asymptomatic COVID-19 patients was conducted. This systematic review was performed under the guidelines of PRISMA. PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science were used to search for articles for this review. Articles with the key words: “asymptomatic”, “COVID-19”, “[18F]FDG PET/CT”, and “nuclear medicine” were searched for from 1 January 2020 to 20 May 2021. Thirty asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 were included in the eighteen articles. These patients had a mean age of 62.25 ± 14.85 years (male: 67.71 ± 12.00; female: 56.79 ± 15.81). [18F]FDG-avid lung lesions were found in 93.33% (28/30) of total patients. The major lesion was [18F]FDG-avid multiple ground-glass opacities (GGOs) in the peripheral or subpleural region in bilateral lungs, followed by the consolidation. The intensity of [18F]FDG uptake in multiple GGOs was 5.605 ± 2.914 (range from 2 to 12) for maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax). [18F]FDG-avid thoracic lymph nodes (LN) were observed in 40% (12/40) of the patients. They mostly appeared in both mediastinal and hilar regions with an SUVmax of 5.8 ± 2.93 (range from 2.5 to 9.6). The [18F]FDG uptake was observed in multiple GGOs, as well as in the mediastinal and hilar LNs. These are common patterns in PET/CT of asymptomatic patients with COVID-19.


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