@article{siczek2014role,
  title = {Role of 18F-FDG PET-CT in Vasculitis: a Prospective Study},
  author = {Kinga Diana Siczek and Paola Faggioli and Emanuela Venegoni and Luigia Florimonte and Marco Carletto and Fabio Cammelli and Cristina Songini and Alberto Vignati and Rossella Stoico and Antonino Mazzone and Lorenzo S. Maffioli},
  year = 2014,
  url = {https://ibimapublishing.com/articles/JMED/2014/389734/},
  journal = {JMED Research},
  volume = 2014 (2014),
  pages = 14,
  doi = 10.5171/2014.389734,
  abstract = {Objective: Evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PET in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) and in patients with suspected and/or proved large vessel vasculitis (LVV). Patients and methods: 72 patients (49 females, 23 males; mean age 63 y, range 23-82) were prospectively examined with PET between February 2010 and April 2013; 42 with suspected LVV, 15 with LVV during steroid therapy, and 15 with fever of unknown origin (FUO). Follow-up scans were performed in 19 patients. A semi-quantitative analysis [Vessel SUVmax]/[liver SUVmax] was performed to rate the disease in a 4-step system. PET scans were compared with temporal artery biopsy and MRI and/or angio-CT of a specific region.  Results:Pathological 18F-FDG (FDG) uptake was observed in 30/72 (42%) patients, and negative in 42/72 (58%) patients. In 42 patients with suspected LVV 9 (21%) were positive, and 33 (79%) negative; 11 (73%) of the 15 steroid-treated patients with LVV were positive, and 4 (27%) negative; 10 (67%) of the 15 patients with FUO were positive and 5 (33%) negative. PET had an overall sensitivity of 87% [95% confidence interval (CI) 79-95%], a specificity of 95% (95% CI 90-100%), a positive predictive value of 93% (95% CI 87-99%) and a negative predictive value of 91% (95% CI 84-97%). The diagnostic accuracy of PET was 92% (95% CI 85-98%). Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET/CT especially that based on semi quantitative analysis is a sensitive and specific imaging tool for the diagnosis of LVV but also for therapy monitoring and follow up.},
  keywords = {vasculitis, FDG-PET/CT, corticosteroid therapy},
  note = Article ID: 389734
}