¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for Detection of Metastatic Infection in Gram-Positive Bacteremia

Enrollment of prospectively included study patients and historical control patients from database of Department of Medical Microbiology. False-positive ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan results were found in 7 patients. Localized colonic uptake, followed by normal colonoscopy results, was seen in 2 patients. In 1 patient, shoulder uptake was not accompanied by hydrops on ultrasound, but no puncture was performed. Confirmed mediastinal lymphadenopathy on CT was seen in 1 patient, but no further diagnostic tests were performed. Lymphadenopathy had disappeared after 6 mo of follow-up. Pleural uptake without pleural effusion on chest radiography was seen in 1 patient. She died before further investigations could be performed. In 1 patient, uptake in psoas was thought to be due to recent bleeding seen on CT. No cultures were taken in this patient, and she was treated for 6 mo because of infected knee prosthesis. Abnormalities on CT disappeared. In 1 patient, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was present at site of pacemaker lead. He refused transesophageal echocardiography and was treated for 6 wk until presumed infected kidney stone was removed. Infection did not recur.