FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging in large vessel vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica: joint procedural recommendation of the EANM, SNMMI, and the PET Interest Group (PIG), and endorsed by the ASNC

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 1250 - 1269
• Main Author: Slart, Riemer H. J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.07.2018; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag (Germany) [1976-....]
• Subjects: Angiography; Arteries; Arteritis; Bioengineering; Cardiology; Cardiology and cardiovascular system; Computed tomography; Damage assessment; Diagnosis; Disease; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Giant Cell Arteritis - diagnostic imaging; Human health and pathology; Humans; Imaging; Inflammatory diseases; Life Sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Orthopedics; Polymyalgia rheumatica; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - diagnostic imaging; Positron emission; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Positron-Emission Tomography; Public Opinion; Radiology; Review; Review Article; Standardization; Takayasu's disease; Tissues and Organs; Tomography; Vasculitis; Vein & artery diseases; Large vessel vasculitis; Imaging procedure; Polymyalgia rheumatica; FDG-PET/CT(A)
• ISSN: 1619-7070; 1619-7089; 1619-7089
• DOI: 10.1007/s00259-018-3973-8

Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is defined as a disease mainly affecting the large arteries, with two major variants, Takayasu arteritis (TA) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). GCA often coexists with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in the same patient, since both belong to the same disease spectrum. FDG-PET/CT is a functional imaging technique which is an established tool in oncology, and has also demonstrated a role in the field of inflammatory diseases. Functional FDG-PET combined with anatomical CT angiography, FDG-PET/CT(A), may be of synergistic value for optimal diagnosis, monitoring of disease activity, and evaluating damage progression in LVV. There are currently no guidelines regarding PET imaging acquisition for LVV and PMR, even though standardization is of the utmost importance in order to facilitate clinical studies and for daily clinical practice. This work constitutes a joint procedural recommendation on FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging in large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and PMR from the Cardiovascular and Inflammation & Infection Committees of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the Cardiovascular Council of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), and the PET Interest Group (PIG), and endorsed by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC). The aim of this joint paper is to provide recommendations and statements, based on the available evidence in the literature and consensus of experts in the field, for patient preparation, and FDG-PET/CT(A) acquisition and interpretation for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with suspected or diagnosed LVV and/or PMR. This position paper aims to set an internationally accepted standard for FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging and reporting of LVV and PMR.