Can PET help diagnose neurosarcoidosis?

FDG-PET imaging shows promise for use as a diagnostic criterion for neurosarcoidosis, with a recent case series illustrating the approach was effective when gold-standard approaches were not, according to a group of researchers in Berlin. “To date, F-18 FDG PET findings are currently not taken into account when making a diagnosis for possible, probable, or definite neurosarcoidosis,” noted lead author Jessy Chen, MD, of Charité - Berlin University Medicine, and colleagues. The article was published January 25 in Neurological Research and Practice. Neurosarcoidosis (NS) is a relatively rare form of sarcoidosis that affects the nervous system and is characterized by inflammation in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. MRI is the imaging gold standard for diagnosis, yet identifying the disease using this method remains challenging, the researchers wrote. F-18 FDG-PET is an established approach for diagnosing inflammation based on its ability to visualize increased cellular glucose metabolism, and the researchers hypothesized that it could be useful in patients with neurosarcoidosis. To assess the concept, the researchers identified three patients between 2020 and 2022 at their hospital who had undergone MRI as well as additional F-18 FDG-PET scans to identify potential hypermetabolism in the central nervous system. In all three cases, gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans did not show abnormalities.F-18 FDG-PET and MRI scans of three patients. (A.1-B.1) F-18 FDG-PET (A1 sag...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Subspecialties Head and Neck Radiology Neuroradiology Source Type: news