1. A comparison of the diagnostic value of MRI and 18 F-FDG-PET/CT in suspected spondylodiscitis.
- Author
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Smids C, Kouijzer IJ, Vos FJ, Sprong T, Hosman AJ, de Rooy JW, Aarntzen EH, de Geus-Oei LF, Oyen WJ, and Bleeker-Rovers CP
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Discitis pathology, Epidural Abscess, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Sensitivity and Specificity, Spine diagnostic imaging, Spine pathology, Young Adult, Discitis diagnostic imaging, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 therapeutic use, Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods, Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography methods
- Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of
18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing spondylodiscitis and its complications, such as epidural and paraspinal abscesses., Methods: From January 2006 to August 2013 patients with a clinical suspicion of spondylodiscitis, with an infection, or with fever of unknown origin were retrospectively included if18 F-FDG-PET/CT and MRI of the spine were performed within a 2-week time span. Imaging results were compared to the final clinical diagnosis and follow-up data were collected., Results: Sixty-eight patients were included of whom 49 patients were diagnosed with spondylodiscitis. MRI showed an overall sensitivity of 67 % and specificity of 84 %. Diagnostic accuracy was 58 %, when MRI was performed within 2 weeks after the start of symptoms and improved to 82 %, when performed more than 2 weeks after onset of symptoms.18 F-FDG-PET/CT showed a sensitivity of 96 % and a specificity of 95 %, with no relation to the interval between the scan and the start of symptoms., Conclusions: As compared to MRI,18 F-FDG-PET/CT has superior diagnostic value for detecting early spondylodiscitis. After 2 weeks both techniques perform similarly., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards Ethical standards According to the Dutch law, this study was exempt from approval by an ethics committee, because of the retrospective character of this study and the anonymous storage of data. Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.- Published
- 2017
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