PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Andrew Thornton
AU  - Francesco Fraioli
AU  - Simon Wan
AU  - Helen S Garthwaite
AU  - Balaji Ganeshan
AU  - Robert Ian Shortman
AU  - Raymond Endozo
AU  - Stefan Voo
AU  - Irfan Kayani
AU  - Deena Neriman
AU  - Leon Menezes
AU  - Jamshed B. Bomanji
AU  - Toby Hillman
AU  - Melissa Heightman
AU  - Joanna C Porter
AU  - Ashley M Groves
TI  - Evolution of <sup>18</sup>F-FDG-PET/CT findings in patients following COVID-19 pneumonia: An Initial Investigation
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.121.262296
DP  - 2021 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - jnumed.121.262296
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2021/07/16/jnumed.121.262296.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2021/07/16/jnumed.121.262296.full
AB  - Background: The evolution of pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake is unknown in patients with pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 pneumonia) and in those with persistent respiratory symptoms post-COVID-19 termed Post-COVID-19 Lung-Disease (PCLD). The aim of this study was to assess the temporal evolution of pulmonary 18F-FDG uptake and identify a potential role for the use of 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging in the management of these patients. Methods: Clinical data and CT imaging of all patients that underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging at UCLH, Lon-don during the UK pandemic were reviewed to find evidence of active or recovered SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results of PCR tests were used where available. Patients were divided in to acute (early and late) COVID-19 pneumonia, PCLD and asymptomatic recovery. 18F-FDG uptake in the lungs was measured as a target-to-background ratio (SUVmax/SUVmin) TBRlung which was compared to temporal-stage and plasma CRP. Results: There were 50 patients in total (median 61y, range 18–87y, 32-male): 23 incidental acute COVID-19 pneumonia cases identified retrospectively (8 Early, 15 Late), 9 asymptomatic recovered patients, and 18 cases performed for PCLD. In acute COVID-19 patients <3 weeks since disease onset TBRlung was strongly correlated with time since disease onset (rs=0.81, p<0.001).