¹⁸F-Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in cardiac sarcoidosis

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2011 Sep;38(9):1773-83. doi: 10.1007/s00259-011-1832-y. Epub 2011 May 11.

Abstract

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease that causes conduction disturbance, systolic dysfunction, and most notably sudden cardiac death. Accurate diagnosis of CS is thus mandatory; however, a reliable approach that enables diagnosis of CS with high sensitivity and specificity has yet to be established. Recent studies have demonstrated the promising potential of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) in the diagnosis and assessment of CS. Indeed, (18)F-FDG PET provides a wide variety of advantages over previous imaging modalities; however, there are pitfalls and limitations that should be recognized. In this review article, (1) the rationale for (18)F-FDG PET application in CS, (2) suitable pretest preparations, and (3) evaluation protocols for the (18)F-FDG PET images obtained will be addressed. In particular, sufficient suppression of physiological (18)F-FDG uptake in the heart is essential for accurate assessment of CS. Also, (4) recent studies addressing the diagnostic role of (18)F-FDG PET and (5) the clinically important differences between (18)F-FDG PET and other imaging technologies will be reviewed. For example, active sarcoid lesions and their response to steroid treatment will be better detected by (18)F-FDG PET, whereas fibrotic lesions might be shown more clearly by magnetic resonance imaging or other nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging. In the last decade, (18)F-FDG PET has substantially enhanced detection of CS; however, CS would be better evaluated by a combination of multiple modalities. In the future, advances in (18)F-FDG PET and other emerging imaging modalities are expected to enable better management of patients with sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diet therapy
  • Cardiomyopathies / drug therapy
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Sarcoidosis / diet therapy
  • Sarcoidosis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18