An easy and practical guide for imaging infection/inflammation by [18F]FDG PET/CT

Abstract

The aim of this mini-review was to summarize the role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18Fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) in inflammatory and infective processes, based on the published scientific evidence. We analysed clinical indications, patient preparation, image acquisition protocols, image interpretation, pitfalls and how to make the report of cardio-vascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases and other inflammatory and infective systemic diseases. Results of this analysis are shown in practical tables, easy to understand for daily routine consultation. Despite [18F]FDG is currently used in several inflammatory and infective diseases, standardized interpretation criteria are still needed in most cases. It is, therefore, foreseen the execution of multicentre clinical studies that, by adopting the same acquisition and interpretation criteria, may contribute to the standardization of this imaging modality.