Effects of varying serum glucose levels on 18F-FDG biodistribution.

In patients undergoing a FDG PET/CT scan, as fasting glucose levels increase, SUVmax in the liver increased.  (Nucl Med Commun. 2015 Apr 15.)

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The combined effects of serum lipids, BMI, and fatty liver on 18F-FDG uptake in the liver in a large population from China: an 18F-FDG-PET/CT study.

Mild to moderate fat uptake by the liver had a positive effect on liver F-FDG uptake, whereas a severe degree of fatty liver negatively affected FDG uptake. BMI was positively correlated with hepatic FDG uptake.  (Nucl Med Commun. 2015 Mar 9.)

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The Role of Routine Clinical Pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in Predicting Outcome of Colorectal Liver Metastasis

In colorectal cancer, pretreatment FDG PET/CT SUVmean less than 4.48, SUVmax less than 6.59, total lesion glycolysis less than 75.2, and metabolic tumor volume less than 4.49 cm were all associated with a longer progression free survival.  (Clin Nucl Med. 2015 Feb 4.)

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The predictive value of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate for 18F-FDG PET/CT outcome in patients with fever and inflammation of unknown origin.

FDG PET/CT is helpful in establishing the diagnosis in patients with fever of unknown origin. F-FDG PET/CT was 100% true negative only in patients with CRP levels less than 5 mg/l. A positive CRP level is more likely to indicate a true positive PET/CT scan than a positive ESR level.  (Nucl Med Commun. 2015 Mar 3)

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PET/CT imaging correlates with tuberculosis treatment outcomes

This study of PET/CT imaging found that  radiologic markers were more sensitive than conventional sputum microbiology in distinguishing successful from unsuccessful treatment.  Read More

CT vs Ultrasound for Kidney Stones

CT scans aren't better than point-of-care ultrasound exams in the diagnosis of kidney stones. - NEJM

COMMENT: this study is pretty pointless. Diagnosis of kidney stones is typically a clinical diagnosis that doesn't depend upon imaging.

Does hepatic steatosis increase FDG uptake?

Accumulation of (18)F-FDG in the liver in hepatic steatosis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with hepatic inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: does hepatic steatosis of the liver cause increased FDG uptake?

METHODS: Hepatic FDG uptake (SUV) and CT density were measured in 304 patients referred for routine PET/CT. Blood FDG concentration was measured as the maximum SUV over the left ventricular cavity (SUVLV). Hepatic steatosis was defined as CT density less than 40 HU (n = 71).

RESULTS: Fat-adjusted SUV was higher in patients with hepatic steatosis.

CONCLUSION: FDG uptake is increased in hepatic steatosis, probably resulting from irreversible uptake in inflammatory cells superimposed on reversible hepatocyte uptake.


COMMENT: this may have important implications when performing SUV lesion/liver ratios as an indicator of lesion malignancy.

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014 Sep;203(3):643-8

Cost effectiveness of bedside ultrasound in pediatric ER care

Bedside ultrasound is cost-effective in pediatric emergency room care, a team of researchers has concluded. Using a portable or bedside ultrasound machine, they say, has been proven to lessen the length of stay in the ER and to provide images equal in accuracy to x-ray or CT scan without exposing children to potentially harmful radiation. Read More

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