FDG-PET/CT in Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases

The advantages of fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) over conventional radionuclide studies in infection and inflammation include high sensitivity, high-resolution images, high target-to-background ratio, and fast technique completed in one session. FDG-PET/CT is well established in several infectious and inflammatory diseases (eg, fever of unknown origin, spondylitis, and vasculitis). FDG-PET/CT is promising in several clinical settings of infection and inflammation (eg, bacteremia of unknown origin, prosthetic infections, and sarcoidosis). FDG-PET/CT is being investigated in several novel indications (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and venous thromboembolism).