Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica

Abstract Background It has been hypothesized that 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) can distinguish polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) from non-PMR patients based on the [18F]FDG-uptake patterns. Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment...

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Main Authors: Andreas Wiggers Nielsen, Gijs D. van Praagh, Kornelis S. M. van der Geest, Ib Tønder Hansen, Berit Dalsgaard Nielsen, Søren Geill Kjær, Jesper Blegvad-Nissen, Kate Rewers, Christian Møller Sørensen, Elisabeth Brouwer, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, Lars Christian Gormsen, Riemer H. J. A. Slart, Kresten Krarup Keller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-04-01
Series:EJNMMI Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-025-01233-7
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author Andreas Wiggers Nielsen
Gijs D. van Praagh
Kornelis S. M. van der Geest
Ib Tønder Hansen
Berit Dalsgaard Nielsen
Søren Geill Kjær
Jesper Blegvad-Nissen
Kate Rewers
Christian Møller Sørensen
Elisabeth Brouwer
Ellen-Margrethe Hauge
Lars Christian Gormsen
Riemer H. J. A. Slart
Kresten Krarup Keller
author_facet Andreas Wiggers Nielsen
Gijs D. van Praagh
Kornelis S. M. van der Geest
Ib Tønder Hansen
Berit Dalsgaard Nielsen
Søren Geill Kjær
Jesper Blegvad-Nissen
Kate Rewers
Christian Møller Sørensen
Elisabeth Brouwer
Ellen-Margrethe Hauge
Lars Christian Gormsen
Riemer H. J. A. Slart
Kresten Krarup Keller
author_sort Andreas Wiggers Nielsen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background It has been hypothesized that 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) can distinguish polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) from non-PMR patients based on the [18F]FDG-uptake patterns. Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment of whole-body [18F]FDG-patterns across all uptaking musculoskeletal sites, as well as site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake patterns, has not been conducted. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate both the overall whole-body [18F]FDG-uptake patterns and the specific uptake patterns at individual sites in patients suspected of having PMR. Methods Two distinct cohorts of patients with suspected PMR from Denmark and the Netherlands were prospectively included, encompassing 66/27 and 36/21 PMR/non-PMR patients, respectively. The cohorts consisted of treatment-naïve patients, who underwent pre-treatment [18F]FDG-PET/CT scans. The [18F]FDG-uptake was then assessed across 34 different anatomical sites. Furthermore, the site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake pattern within each anatomical site was categorized according to its shape. Results Patients with PMR were more likely than non-PMR patients to have bilateral [18F]FDG-uptake equal to or above liver compared at the ischial tuberosities (91%/41%), shoulder joints (86%/45%), hip joints (83%/52%), and along the lumbar spinal processes (70%/30%). However, a subgroup analysis comparing non-PMR patients with other inflammatory conditions to patients with PMR revealed that several non-PMR patients exhibited a similar whole-body [18F]FDG-uptake pattern. Furthermore, site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake patterns were similar in patients with PMR and non-PMR. Conclusion Assessing whole-body or site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake patterns does not improve the diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing PMR from other inflammatory diseases. Consequently, [18F]FDG-PET/CT should mainly be used to rule out a clinical diagnosis of PMR. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04519580). Registered 17th of August 2020.
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spelling doaj-art-6920a359534a40eb86b3a6042bb36e4f2025-08-20T03:52:23ZengSpringerOpenEJNMMI Research2191-219X2025-04-0115111510.1186/s13550-025-01233-7Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumaticaAndreas Wiggers Nielsen0Gijs D. van Praagh1Kornelis S. M. van der Geest2Ib Tønder Hansen3Berit Dalsgaard Nielsen4Søren Geill Kjær5Jesper Blegvad-Nissen6Kate Rewers7Christian Møller Sørensen8Elisabeth Brouwer9Ellen-Margrethe Hauge10Lars Christian Gormsen11Riemer H. J. A. Slart12Kresten Krarup Keller13Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Led- Og BindevævssygdommeDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Centre GroningenDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenDepartment of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Led- Og BindevævssygdommeDepartment of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Led- Og BindevævssygdommeDiagnostic Centre, Silkeborg Regional HospitalDiagnostic Centre, Silkeborg Regional HospitalDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Odense University HospitalDepartment of Internal Medicine, Horsens Regional HospitalDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenDepartment of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Led- Og BindevævssygdommeDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Centre GroningenDepartment of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Led- Og BindevævssygdommeAbstract Background It has been hypothesized that 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) can distinguish polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) from non-PMR patients based on the [18F]FDG-uptake patterns. Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment of whole-body [18F]FDG-patterns across all uptaking musculoskeletal sites, as well as site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake patterns, has not been conducted. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate both the overall whole-body [18F]FDG-uptake patterns and the specific uptake patterns at individual sites in patients suspected of having PMR. Methods Two distinct cohorts of patients with suspected PMR from Denmark and the Netherlands were prospectively included, encompassing 66/27 and 36/21 PMR/non-PMR patients, respectively. The cohorts consisted of treatment-naïve patients, who underwent pre-treatment [18F]FDG-PET/CT scans. The [18F]FDG-uptake was then assessed across 34 different anatomical sites. Furthermore, the site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake pattern within each anatomical site was categorized according to its shape. Results Patients with PMR were more likely than non-PMR patients to have bilateral [18F]FDG-uptake equal to or above liver compared at the ischial tuberosities (91%/41%), shoulder joints (86%/45%), hip joints (83%/52%), and along the lumbar spinal processes (70%/30%). However, a subgroup analysis comparing non-PMR patients with other inflammatory conditions to patients with PMR revealed that several non-PMR patients exhibited a similar whole-body [18F]FDG-uptake pattern. Furthermore, site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake patterns were similar in patients with PMR and non-PMR. Conclusion Assessing whole-body or site-specific [18F]FDG-uptake patterns does not improve the diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing PMR from other inflammatory diseases. Consequently, [18F]FDG-PET/CT should mainly be used to rule out a clinical diagnosis of PMR. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04519580). Registered 17th of August 2020.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-025-01233-7Polymyalgia rheumaticaDiagnostic imagingFDG-PET/CTPattern recognition
spellingShingle Andreas Wiggers Nielsen
Gijs D. van Praagh
Kornelis S. M. van der Geest
Ib Tønder Hansen
Berit Dalsgaard Nielsen
Søren Geill Kjær
Jesper Blegvad-Nissen
Kate Rewers
Christian Møller Sørensen
Elisabeth Brouwer
Ellen-Margrethe Hauge
Lars Christian Gormsen
Riemer H. J. A. Slart
Kresten Krarup Keller
Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
EJNMMI Research
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Diagnostic imaging
FDG-PET/CT
Pattern recognition
title Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
title_full Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
title_fullStr Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
title_full_unstemmed Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
title_short Whole-body and site specific [18F]FDG uptake patterns on PET/CT have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases: two cohorts of treatment-naïve suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
title_sort whole body and site specific 18f fdg uptake patterns on pet ct have limited value in differentiating between polymyalgia rheumatica and other inflammatory diseases two cohorts of treatment naive suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
topic Polymyalgia rheumatica
Diagnostic imaging
FDG-PET/CT
Pattern recognition
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-025-01233-7
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