Diagnostic value of F-18 FDG PET/CT in patients with spondylodiscitis: Is dual time point imaging time worthy?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2016.03.021
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02T03:36:38Z
• Authors: Burcak Yilmaz Gunes; Cetin Onsel; Kerim Sonmezoglu; Resat Ozaras; Metin Halac; Fehmi Tabak; Sait Sager; Bilgul Mete; Haluk Sayman; Bedii Kanmaz
• Keywords: Spondylodiscitis; PET-CT; Time point

In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the value of FDG-PET/CT in the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis (SD), the significance of dual time point imaging (DTPI) for SD diagnosis and the worth of SUVmax data for distinguishing tuberculous vs. non-tuberculous SD.32 patients with suspected SD were scanned with FDG-PET/CT. For quantitative analysis maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the lesion area was measured. Nineteen patients had DTPI of FDG-PET/CT. The final diagnoses were achieved by histopathological, microbiological, and clinical results.Specific pathogens were isolated in 21 patients; other patients were accepted as nonspecific bacterial SD. In all patients, FDG-PET/CT results were compatible with SD diagnosis. The SUVmax data for tuberculous and non-tuberculous SD and DTPI results were statistically insignificant.FDG-PET/CT is a successful modality for SD diagnosis; additionally, DTPI protocol for FDG-PET/CT in SD diagnosis and SUVmax data for differentiation between non-tbc SD and tbc SD are useless.