RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 INCIDENTAL FINDINGS SUGGESTIVE OF COVID-19 IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING NUCLEAR MEDICINE PROCEDURES IN A HIGH PREVALENCE REGION
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP jnumed.120.246256
DO 10.2967/jnumed.120.246256
A1 Domenico Albano
A1 Francesco Bertagna
A1 Mattia Bertolia
A1 Giovanni Bosio
A1 Silvia Lucchini
A1 Federica Motta
A1 Maria Beatrice Panarotto
A1 Alessia Peli
A1 Luca Camoni
A1 Frank M. Bengel
A1 Raffaele Giubbini
YR 2020
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2020/04/01/jnumed.120.246256.abstract
AB Infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 may remain asymptomatic, leading to under-recognition of the related disease, COVID-19, and to incidental findings in nuclear imaging procedures performed for standard clinical indications. Here, we report about our local experience in a region with high COVID-19 prevalence and dynamically increasing infection rates. Methods: Within the 8 day period of March 16-24, 2020, hybrid imaging studies of asymptomatic patients who underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT or 131I-SPECT/CT for standard oncologic indications at our institution in Brescia, Italy, were analyzed for findings suggestive of COVID-19. Presence, radiological features and metabolic activity of interstitial pneumonia were identified, correlated with subsequent short-term clinical course and described in a case series. Results: Six of 65 patients (9%) that underwent PET/CT for various malignancies showed unexpected signs of interstitial pneumonia on CT and elevated regional FDG-avidity. Additionally, 1 of 12 patients who received radioiodine for differentiated thyroid carcinoma also showed interstitial pneumonia on SPECT/CT. 5/7 patients had subsequent proof of COVID-19 by RT-PCR. The remaining 2 patients were not tested immediately but underwent quarantine and careful monitoring. Conclusion: Incidental findings suggestive of COVID-19 may not be infrequent in hybrid imaging of asymptomatic patients, in regions with expansive spread of SARS-CoV-2. Nuclear medicine services should prepare accordingly.