Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings in spondylodiscitis: preliminary results

Eur Spine J. 2001 Dec;10(6):534-9. doi: 10.1007/s005860100339.

Abstract

Nuclear medicine procedures can be helpful in diagnosing spine infections. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the findings of positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FGD-PET) in the detection of spondylodiscitis. We performed FDG-PET in 16 patients with suspected spondylodiscitis. All the patients were operated and underwent histopathological examination. The FDG-PET findings were graded and evaluated by two independent nuclear medicine physicians. Of the 16 patients, 12 had a histopathologically confirmed spondylodiscitis. In all these 12 patients, FDG-PET was true-positive. In the four patients without spondylodiscitis, FDG-PET showed three true-negative and one false-positive result. In spondylodiscitis, the mean standard uptake value (SUV) of FDG was 7.5 (SD+/-3.8). The PET scans depicted the paravertebral soft tissue involvement in cases of spondylodiscitis. Our first results showed that FDG-PET is a very sensitive imaging procedure in the detection of spondylodiscitis. Compared to other nuclear medicine procedures, PET enables a rapid imaging with acceptable radiation dose and high spatial resolution.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Discitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Discitis / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18