Positron emission tomography

Vasculitis

Giant cell arteritis

Fever of unknown origin

Aorta

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Medical diagnosis

Disease

Nuclear medicine

Internal medicine

Radiology

Aortitis

Medicine

Journal of Internal Medicine

Inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) is a challenging situation in internal medicine.To describe the final diagnoses in IUO and assess the helpfulness of 18 F-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computerized tomography (18 F-FDG-PET/CT) in the diagnosis strategy.A total of 317 IUO patients with 18 F-FDG-PET/CT were enrolled. A diagnosis was reached in 228 patients: noninfectious inflammatory diseases (NIID) (37.5%), infectious diseases (18.6%), malignancies (7.9%), and non-systemic-inflammatory miscellaneous diseases (7.9%). The two leading causes of NIID were polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. 18 F-FDG-PET/CT results were classified as true positive in 49.8% of patients and contributory in 75.1% of overall IUO patients (after the complete investigation set and a prolonged follow-up). In multivariate analysis, only C-reactive protein minimum level (≥50 mg/L) was associated with the contributory status of 18 F-FDG-PET/CT.Within the wide spectrum of IUO underlying diseases, 18 F-FDG-PET/CT is helpful to make a diagnosis and to eliminate inflammatory diseases. Obese patients constitute a specific group needing further studies.

Diagnostic performance of <sup>18</sup>F‐FDG‐PET/CT in inflammation of unknown origin: A clinical series of 317 patients

Diagnostic performance of 18F‐FDG‐PET/CT in inflammation of unknown origin: A clinical series of 317 patients

Diagnostic performance of ¹⁸F‐FDG‐PET/CT in inflammation of unknown origin: A clinical series of 317 patients