Hye Joo Son1, Young Jin Jeong1, Hyun Jin Yoon1, Lih Wang2, Hyeon Jun Kim2, Jong-Hwan Park3, Do-Young Kang1. 1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dong-A University Medical Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 26 Daesingongwon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan, 602-812 South Korea ; Institute of Convergence Bio-Health, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea. 2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dong-A University Medical Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea. 3. Institute of Convergence Bio-Health, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea.
Abstract
PURPOSE: We investigated the visual tracer distribution pattern and serial changes in uptake ratio in different anatomical zones during the natural postoperative course in order to establish a reference for evaluation of patients with complications. METHODS: A total of 36 patients without symptoms after hip or knee arthroplasty were grouped according to the interval between surgery and the scan. The serial changes in SUVmean in each periprosthetic zone were quantified using the volume of interest isocontour method. Images were classified according to the uptake distribution pattern. The uptake ratios in the postoperative period groups were then compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between uptake ratio and postoperative period was then determined. RESULTS: Tracer distribution patterns in hip prostheses were classified into three types and the patterns in knee prostheses into five types. In hip prostheses, intense osteoblastic activity was observed during 3-6 months and then declined in most patients, but showed a slight increase over 15-25 months in 5-10 % of patients. The correlation coefficients varied among the zones. Significant differences in uptake ratios among the period groups was found for all zones, except zone 8. Porous coated areas showed higher uptake than uncoated areas only for the period the 3-6 months. In knee prostheses, uptake ratios showed a curvilinear pattern, increasing from 3-6 to 8-15 months and declining later. The uptake ratios were different among the period groups. Every zone showed a positive correlation from 3-6 to 8-15 months, and negative correlations from 8-15 to 22-25 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT study investigating the stability of implants and sets a reference for evaluation of patients with complications.
PURPOSE: We investigated the visual tracer distribution pattern and serial changes in uptake ratio in different anatomical zones during the natural postoperative course in order to establish a reference for evaluation of patients with complications. METHODS: A total of 36 patients without symptoms after hip or knee arthroplasty were grouped according to the interval between surgery and the scan. The serial changes in SUVmean in each periprosthetic zone were quantified using the volume of interest isocontour method. Images were classified according to the uptake distribution pattern. The uptake ratios in the postoperative period groups were then compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between uptake ratio and postoperative period was then determined. RESULTS: Tracer distribution patterns in hip prostheses were classified into three types and the patterns in knee prostheses into five types. In hip prostheses, intense osteoblastic activity was observed during 3-6 months and then declined in most patients, but showed a slight increase over 15-25 months in 5-10 % of patients. The correlation coefficients varied among the zones. Significant differences in uptake ratios among the period groups was found for all zones, except zone 8. Porous coated areas showed higher uptake than uncoated areas only for the period the 3-6 months. In knee prostheses, uptake ratios showed a curvilinear pattern, increasing from 3-6 to 8-15 months and declining later. The uptake ratios were different among the period groups. Every zone showed a positive correlation from 3-6 to 8-15 months, and negative correlations from 8-15 to 22-25 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT study investigating the stability of implants and sets a reference for evaluation of patients with complications.