Diagnostic Performance of 18F-FDG PETCT in Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases according to Published Meta-Analyses

الملخص EN

Purpose.

To date, several meta-analyses have reported data about the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in infectious and inflammatory diseases.

This article aims to summarize the published evidence-based data about the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in this setting.

Methods.

A comprehensive computer literature search of meta-analyses published in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane library database from January 2009 through December 2018 and regarding the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in infectious and inflammatory diseases was carried out.

This combination of key words was used: (i) “PET” OR “positron emission tomography” OR “FDG” OR “fluorodeoxyglucose” AND (ii) meta-analysis.

Only records on inflammatory or infectious diseases were selected.

Results.

The diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting inflammatory and infectious diseases has been summarized taking into account 36 meta-analyses published in the literature.

Evidence-based data demonstrated good diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT for several inflammatory and infectious diseases, in particular cardiovascular infectious and inflammatory diseases and some musculoskeletal infections.

Conclusions.

Evidence-based data about the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in infectious and inflammatory diseases are increasing, with good diagnostic performance of this imaging method for some indications.

More prospective multicenter studies and cost-effective analyses are warranted.