Chantal P Bleeker-Rovers1,2,3, Fidel J Vos4,5, Aart H Mudde6, Anton S M Dofferhoff7, Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei8, Anton J Rijnders9, Paul F M Krabbe10, Frans H M Corstens8,5, Jos W M van der Meer4,5, Wim J G Oyen8,5. 1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. c.bleeker-rovers@AIG.umcn.nl. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. c.bleeker-rovers@AIG.umcn.nl. 3. Nijmegen University Centre for Infectious Diseases, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. c.bleeker-rovers@AIG.umcn.nl. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 5. Nijmegen University Centre for Infectious Diseases, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Slingeland Hospital, Doetinchem, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 8. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 9. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands. 10. Department of Medical Technology Assessment, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Since (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulates in neoplastic cells and in activated inflammatory cells, positron emission tomography (PET) with FDG could be valuable in diagnosing patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO). The aim of this study was to validate the use of FDG-PET as part of a structured diagnostic protocol in the general patient population with FUO. METHODS: From December 2003 to July 2005, 70 patients with FUO were recruited from one university hospital (n=38) and five community hospitals (n=32). A structured diagnostic protocol including FDG-PET was used. A dedicated, full-ring PET scanner was used for data acquisition. FDG-PET scans were interpreted by two staff members of the department of nuclear medicine without further clinical information. The final clinical diagnosis was used for comparison with the FDG-PET results. RESULTS: Of all scans, 33% were clinically helpful. The contribution of FDG-PET to the final diagnosis did not differ significantly between patients diagnosed in the university hospital and patients diagnosed in the community hospitals. FDG-PET contributed significantly more often to the final diagnosis in patients with continuous fever than in patients with periodic fever. FDG-PET was not helpful in any of the patients with normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). CONCLUSION: FDG-PET is a valuable imaging technique as part of a diagnostic protocol in the general patient population with FUO and a raised ESR or CRP.
PURPOSE: Since (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulates in neoplastic cells and in activated inflammatory cells, positron emission tomography (PET) with FDG could be valuable in diagnosing patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO). The aim of this study was to validate the use of FDG-PET as part of a structured diagnostic protocol in the general patient population with FUO. METHODS: From December 2003 to July 2005, 70 patients with FUO were recruited from one university hospital (n=38) and five community hospitals (n=32). A structured diagnostic protocol including FDG-PET was used. A dedicated, full-ring PET scanner was used for data acquisition. FDG-PET scans were interpreted by two staff members of the department of nuclear medicine without further clinical information. The final clinical diagnosis was used for comparison with the FDG-PET results. RESULTS: Of all scans, 33% were clinically helpful. The contribution of FDG-PET to the final diagnosis did not differ significantly between patients diagnosed in the university hospital and patients diagnosed in the community hospitals. FDG-PET contributed significantly more often to the final diagnosis in patients with continuous fever than in patients with periodic fever. FDG-PET was not helpful in any of the patients with normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). CONCLUSION:FDG-PET is a valuable imaging technique as part of a diagnostic protocol in the general patient population with FUO and a raised ESR or CRP.
Authors: Nese Saltoglu; Yesim Tasova; Durdane Midikli; Hasan S Z Aksu; Aslihan Sanli; Ismail H Dündar Journal: J Infect Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 6.072
Authors: Chantal P Bleeker-Rovers; Elisabeth M H A de Kleijn; Frans H M Corstens; Jos W M van der Meer; Wim J G Oyen Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2003-10-10 Impact factor: 9.236
Authors: Steven Vanderschueren; Daniel Knockaert; Tom Adriaenssens; Wim Demey; Anne Durnez; Daniël Blockmans; Herman Bobbaers Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2003-05-12