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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-08-2008 | Editorial

Optimizing interventions for preventing uptake in the brown adipose tissue in FDG-PET

Authors: Sandip Basu, Abass Alavi

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 8/2008

Excerpt

With the increasing use of 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the practice of medicine, enhanced glycolysis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) has posed a major concern for accurate interpretation of the images [1, 2]. Brown fat is a sub-type of adipose tissue and regulates body temperature by non-shivering thermogenesis. This has been termed “USA Fat” by some investigators [2]. Histologically, it is characterized by high vascularity, dense mitochondria in the cells, and abundant sympathetic noradrenergic innervation. The usual distribution of BAT includes neck and shoulder region, axillae, mediastinum, retrocrural and paravertebral sites [1‐4]. FDG uptake in BAT has been noted to occur more frequently in cold months [5]. Recent data suggests that FDG uptake in BAT occurs more often as a result of acute response to cold weather rather than the prolonged periods of average cold weather [6]. Significant localization of FDG in BAT has been particularly problematic for accurate assessment of suspected malignant lymph nodes in the neck region. Also, there have been reports [7, 8] of atypical as well as asymmetrical distribution of BAT. Therefore, it is important to recognize these variants so that they are not misinterpreted as disease sites. …

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Title: Optimizing interventions for preventing uptake in the brown adipose tissue in FDG-PET
Authors: Sandip Basu
Abass Alavi
Publication date: 01-08-2008
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 8/2008
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-008-0720-6

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Optimizing interventions for preventing uptake in the brown adipose tissue in FDG-PET

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