FDG PET/CT for Detection of Infectious Complications Following Solid Organ Transplantation

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftReviewForskningfagfællebedømt

Infectious complications after solid organ transplantation (SOT) are often more severe and remain a diagnostic challenge due to vague and atypical clinical presentations. Diagnostic performance of conventional diagnostic tools is frequently inadequate which may lead to delayed diagnosis with the risk of poorer outcomes. This literature review aimed to investigate the current evidence on the use of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/computer tomography (CT) in infectious complications after SOT. Based on search in PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane databases, 13 articles and 46 case reports were included. For inclusion, articles were to include data on patients with infectious complications after SOT, and where FDG PET/CT was part of the work-up. Final searches were conducted on 02 September 2020. Overall, in the absence of initial diagnostic clues, FDG PET/CT should be considered as the imaging technique of choice as it may guide further investigations and eventually reveal the diagnosis in most of the patients. However, the available literature of the role of FDG PET/CT in SOT recipients with infectious complications is scarce and well-designed prospective studies including control groups are warranted to establish the role of FDG PET/C/ in SOT recipients. The main drawback of FDG PET/CT is the lack of ability to differentiate between cancer and infectious diseases which are both highly prevalent in this patient group. Accordingly, the main reasons for “false” results of FDG PET/CT is the misdiagnosis of cancer in benign inflammatory or infectious processes, information which nonetheless can be useful.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftSeminars in Nuclear Medicine
Vol/bind51
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)321-334
ISSN0001-2998
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
Clinical cases kindly provided by colleagues from the PET Centre at Guy's & St. Thomas Hospital, London.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.

ID: 305021115