The unexpected finding of the large vessel vasculitis on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in 57-year-old woman with the loss
Abstract
of weight and chronic fatigue Aim: To present a case report of the unexpected finding of the large vessel vasculitis on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in a 57-year-old woman with the loss of weight and chronic fatigue. Material and Method: The woman underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, which was obtained 60 minutes after intravenous injection of 18F-FDG (344 MBq).
The PET scan acquisition time was 2.5 minutes per bed position. Contrastenhanced CT (venous phase) provided both full CT evaluation (including intravenous and oral contrast) and PET attenuation correction.
Results: The examination revealed the unexpected intense 18F-FDG uptake 18F-FDG uptake in the wall of the entire aorta, brachiocephalic trunk, carotid and subclavian arteries. The PET finding was evaluated as a large vessel vasculitis and the anti-inflammatory steroid and immunosuppressive treatment was started.
The remission of disease activity was observed within two months. The follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT performed two months and two years after treatment shows no hypermetabolism of 18F-FDG along aorta and its branches.
Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging is an effective method in a patient with a suspicion for large vessel vasculitis and for an effective evaluation of an anti-inflammatory treatment. In our case report PET-CT detected of a large vessel vasculitis in a woman with the loss of weight and chronic fatigue, which resulted in a subsequent successful anti-inflammatory treatment and improved patient's management