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European Radiology

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01-10-2012 | Nuclear Medicine

Suppression of myocardial ¹⁸F-FDG uptake with a preparatory “Atkins-style” low-carbohydrate diet

Authors: Richard Coulden, Peter Chung, Emer Sonnex, Quazi Ibrahim, Conor Maguire, Jon Abele

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 10/2012

Abstract

Objectives

Physiological myocardial uptake of 18F-FDG during positron emission tomography can mask adjacent abnormal uptake in mediastinal malignancy and inflammatory cardiac diseases. Myocardial uptake is unpredictable and variable. This study evaluates the impact of a low-carbohydrate diet in reducing myocardial FDG uptake.

Method

Patients attending for clinically indicated oncological FDG PET were asked to have an “Atkins-style” low-carbohydrate diet (less than 3 g) the day before examination and an overnight fast. A total of 120 patients following low-carbohydrate diet plus overnight fast were compared with 120 patients prepared by overnight fast alone. Patients having an Atkins-style diet also completed a diet compliance questionnaire. SUV_max and SUV_mean for myocardium, blood pool and liver were measured in both groups.

Results

Myocardial SUV_max fell from 3.53 ± 2.91 in controls to 1.77 ± 0.91 in the diet-compliant group. 98 % of diet-compliant patients had a myocardial SUV_max less than 3.6 compared with 67 % of controls. Liver and blood pool SUV_max rose from 2.68 ± 0.49 and 1.82 ± 0.30 in the control group to 3.14 ± 0.57 and 2.06 ± 0.30.

Conclusion

An Atkins-style diet the day before PET, together with an overnight fast, effectively suppresses myocardial FDG uptake.

Key Points

• Low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) the day before PET suppresses myocardial FDG uptake.

• LCD before PET increases liver and blood pool SUV _max and SUV _mean.

• Suppression of myocardial uptake may improve PET imaging of thoracic disease.

• Suppression of myocardial uptake may help imaging cardiac inflammatory disease with PET.

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Title: Suppression of myocardial 18F-FDG uptake with a preparatory “Atkins-style” low-carbohydrate diet
Authors: Richard Coulden
Peter Chung
Emer Sonnex
Quazi Ibrahim
Conor Maguire
Jon Abele
Publication date: 01-10-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 10/2012
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2478-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Suppression of myocardial ¹⁸F-FDG uptake with a preparatory “Atkins-style” low-carbohydrate diet

Abstract

Objectives

Method

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Method

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

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