18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives

The advent of positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) in the field of inflammatory/infectious diseases heralds an era of personalised disease management using these noninvasive technologies. This nuclear medicine technique can be a useful tool in tuberculosis (TB) f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ana Paula Santos, Rosana Souza Rodrigues, Erik H.J.G. Aarntzen, Paulo Henrique Rosado de Castro, Cecile Magis-Escurra, Fernanda Carvalho de Queiroz Mello
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Respiratory Society 2025-06-01
Series:European Respiratory Review
Online Access:http://err.ersjournals.com/content/34/176/240289.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849710790702006272
author Ana Paula Santos
Rosana Souza Rodrigues
Erik H.J.G. Aarntzen
Paulo Henrique Rosado de Castro
Cecile Magis-Escurra
Fernanda Carvalho de Queiroz Mello
author_facet Ana Paula Santos
Rosana Souza Rodrigues
Erik H.J.G. Aarntzen
Paulo Henrique Rosado de Castro
Cecile Magis-Escurra
Fernanda Carvalho de Queiroz Mello
author_sort Ana Paula Santos
collection DOAJ
description The advent of positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) in the field of inflammatory/infectious diseases heralds an era of personalised disease management using these noninvasive technologies. This nuclear medicine technique can be a useful tool in tuberculosis (TB) for assessing the extent of extrapulmonary disease, evaluating treatment response and identifying patients at higher risk of disease relapse. The fusion of functional imaging provided by PET with the anatomical and morphological details captured by CT has enabled clinicians to better understand the dynamics of the pathophysiology and natural course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Using its whole-body field of view, host responses are most commonly visualised using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, which reflects the glycolytic activity of cells. The strict indications for PET/CT in TB are matched by the caution required in interpreting its qualitative, quantitative and volumetric imaging patterns. In this narrative review, we aim to summarise evidence supporting the use of this molecular imaging modality in thoracic presentations of TB, particularly pulmonary and lymph node involvement, together with concepts to aid in the reporting and interpretation of the tests. We will also explore future indications for PET/CT in TB and discuss challenges to its routine use.
format Article
id doaj-art-c7cd740e532a4fa0b7bffda779663268
institution DOAJ
issn 0905-9180
1600-0617
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher European Respiratory Society
record_format Article
series European Respiratory Review
spelling doaj-art-c7cd740e532a4fa0b7bffda7796632682025-08-20T03:14:49ZengEuropean Respiratory SocietyEuropean Respiratory Review0905-91801600-06172025-06-013417610.1183/16000617.0289-20240289-202418F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectivesAna Paula Santos0Rosana Souza Rodrigues1Erik H.J.G. Aarntzen2Paulo Henrique Rosado de Castro3Cecile Magis-Escurra4Fernanda Carvalho de Queiroz Mello5 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Thoracic Diseases Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Radiology Department, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Groningen University, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Groningen, The Netherlands D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Respiratory Diseases-TB Expert Center Dekkerswald, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Thoracic Diseases Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The advent of positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) in the field of inflammatory/infectious diseases heralds an era of personalised disease management using these noninvasive technologies. This nuclear medicine technique can be a useful tool in tuberculosis (TB) for assessing the extent of extrapulmonary disease, evaluating treatment response and identifying patients at higher risk of disease relapse. The fusion of functional imaging provided by PET with the anatomical and morphological details captured by CT has enabled clinicians to better understand the dynamics of the pathophysiology and natural course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Using its whole-body field of view, host responses are most commonly visualised using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, which reflects the glycolytic activity of cells. The strict indications for PET/CT in TB are matched by the caution required in interpreting its qualitative, quantitative and volumetric imaging patterns. In this narrative review, we aim to summarise evidence supporting the use of this molecular imaging modality in thoracic presentations of TB, particularly pulmonary and lymph node involvement, together with concepts to aid in the reporting and interpretation of the tests. We will also explore future indications for PET/CT in TB and discuss challenges to its routine use.http://err.ersjournals.com/content/34/176/240289.full
spellingShingle Ana Paula Santos
Rosana Souza Rodrigues
Erik H.J.G. Aarntzen
Paulo Henrique Rosado de Castro
Cecile Magis-Escurra
Fernanda Carvalho de Queiroz Mello
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives
European Respiratory Review
title 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives
title_full 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives
title_fullStr 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives
title_full_unstemmed 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives
title_short 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans for thoracic tuberculosis: current evidence and future perspectives
title_sort 18f fluorodeoxyglucose pet ct scans for thoracic tuberculosis current evidence and future perspectives
url http://err.ersjournals.com/content/34/176/240289.full
work_keys_str_mv AT anapaulasantos 18ffluorodeoxyglucosepetctscansforthoracictuberculosiscurrentevidenceandfutureperspectives
AT rosanasouzarodrigues 18ffluorodeoxyglucosepetctscansforthoracictuberculosiscurrentevidenceandfutureperspectives
AT erikhjgaarntzen 18ffluorodeoxyglucosepetctscansforthoracictuberculosiscurrentevidenceandfutureperspectives
AT paulohenriquerosadodecastro 18ffluorodeoxyglucosepetctscansforthoracictuberculosiscurrentevidenceandfutureperspectives
AT cecilemagisescurra 18ffluorodeoxyglucosepetctscansforthoracictuberculosiscurrentevidenceandfutureperspectives
AT fernandacarvalhodequeirozmello 18ffluorodeoxyglucosepetctscansforthoracictuberculosiscurrentevidenceandfutureperspectives