Title:
18F-FDG PET/CT as a Diagnostic Target for a Subset of Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis

Authors:
Vanesa Alende; JA Diaz Peromingo; Bernardo Sopeña; Arturo Gonzalez-Quintela, Spain

Abstract:

Background: Some patients with LV-GCA does not have cranial symptoms and the TAB is negative. Patients with isolated ESR increase could be erroneously considered as a relapse and put on steroid treatment. In these cases, PET/CT can be useful.
Methods: two groups of patients were prospectively studied: Group-1: Patients with clinical suspicion of GCA with a negative TAB. Group 2: patients with ESR persistently elevated.
Results: Group 1 (n= 18): The main complaint was: constitutional symptoms in 72%. TAB was performed and negative in 9 patient. PET showed vascular uptake suggestive of LV-GCA in 89%. Group-2 (n=4): all patients had ESR> 100 mm/h, three of them were asymptomatic. The PET/TC was negative for relapse in 3 patients and positive for PMR in the other case.
Conclusions: The judicious use of PET/CT was useful in the diagnosis and management of selected cases of LV-GCA and to avoid unnecessary steroid treatment.