RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 18F-FDG PET/MRI in Chronic Sciatica: Early Results Revealing Spinal and Nonspinal Abnormalities JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 967 OP 972 DO 10.2967/jnumed.117.198259 VO 59 IS 6 A1 Peter W. Cipriano A1 Daehyun Yoon A1 Harsh Gandhi A1 Dawn Holley A1 Dushyant Thakur A1 Brian A. Hargreaves A1 David J. Kennedy A1 Matthew W. Smuck A1 Ivan Cheng A1 Sandip Biswal YR 2018 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/59/6/967.abstract AB Chronic sciatica is a major cause of disability worldwide, but accurate diagnosis of the causative pathology remains challenging. In this report, the feasibility of an 18F-FDG PET/MRI approach for improved diagnosis of chronic sciatica is presented. Methods: 18F-FDG PET/MRI was performed on 9 chronic sciatica patients and 5 healthy volunteers (healthy controls). Region-of-interest analysis using SUVmax was performed, and 18F-FDG uptake in lesions was compared with that in the corresponding areas in healthy controls. Results: Significantly increased 18F-FDG uptake was observed in detected lesions in all patients and was correlated with pain symptoms. 18F-FDG–avid lesions not only were found in impinged spinal nerves but also were associated with nonspinal causes of pain, such as facet joint degeneration, pars defect, or presumed scar neuroma. Conclusion: The feasibility of 18F-FDG PET/MRI for diagnosing pain generators in chronic sciatica was demonstrated, revealing various possible etiologies.