FDG-PET/CT for diagnosis and follow-up of vasculitis

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We report three cases of vasculitis evaluated by FDG-PET/CT. Vasculitis is defined as inflammatory changes and necrosis in the aterial wall. The patients presented with non-specific symptoms such as fever up or elevated inflammatory markers. FDG-PET/CT clearly demonstrated intense FDG uptake in vessel walls. A 72-year-old female patient with a one month history of pyrexia had abnormal laboratory data suggesting an inflammatory process. FDG-PET/CT was very useful for the diagnosis of vasculitis. Steroid therapy was introduced. Normalization of laboratory data and symptomatic improvement correlated with normalization of FDG uptake in the vessels. J. Med. Invest. 54: 345-349, August, 2007