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Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 3/2014

01-03-2014 | Original Article

FDG and FDG-labelled leucocyte PET/CT in the imaging of prosthetic joint infection

Authors: Sabire Yılmaz Aksoy, Sertac Asa, Meftune Ozhan, Meltem Ocak, M. Sait Sager, Melih Engin Erkan, Metin Halac, Levent Kabasakal, Kerim Sönmezoglu, Bedii Kanmaz

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 3/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

The demand for arthroplasty is rapidly growing as a result of the ageing of the population. Although complications such as heterotrophic ossification, fracture and dislocation are relatively rare, differentiating aseptic loosening, the most common complication of arthroplasty from infection, is a major challenge for clinicians. Radionuclide imaging is currently the imaging modality of choice since it is not affected by orthopaedic hardware. Whereas FDG PET/CT imaging has been widely used in periprosthetic infection, it cannot discriminate aseptic from septic inflammation. In this study we aimed to evaluate the role of FDG PET/CT and FDG-labelled leucocyte PET/CT in the diagnosis of periprosthetic infection.

Methods

Of 54 patients with painful joint arthroplasty who were imaged by FDG PET/CT for diagnosis of periprosthetic infection examined, 46 (36 women, 10 men; mean age 61.04 ± 12.2 years, range 32 – 89 years) with 54 painful joint prostheses (19 hip, 35 knee) with grade 2 (above liver uptake) FDG accumulation on FDG PET/CT were included in the study and these 46 patients also underwent FDG-labelled leucocyte PET/CT. Final diagnoses were made by histopathological-microbiological culture or clinical follow-up.

Results

The final diagnosis showed infection in 15 (28 %) and aseptic loosening in 39 (72 %) of the 54 prostheses. FDG PET/CT was found to have a positive predictive value of 28 % (15/54). Since patients with no FDG uptake on FDG PET/CT were excluded from the study, the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and accuracy could not be calculated. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of FDG-labelled leucocyte PET/CT were 93.3 % (14/15), 97.4 % (38/39), 93.3 % and 97.4 %, respectively.

Conclusion

Since FDG is not specific to infection, the specificity of FDG PET/CT was very low. FDG-labelled leucocyte PET/CT with its high specificity may be a useful method and better than labelled leucocyte scintigraphy in periprosthetic infection imaging.
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Metadata
Title
FDG and FDG-labelled leucocyte PET/CT in the imaging of prosthetic joint infection
Authors
Sabire Yılmaz Aksoy
Sertac Asa
Meftune Ozhan
Meltem Ocak
M. Sait Sager
Melih Engin Erkan
Metin Halac
Levent Kabasakal
Kerim Sönmezoglu
Bedii Kanmaz
Publication date
01-03-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-013-2597-2

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