Kazuyoshi Suga MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yasuhike Kawakami MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Akihiro Seki MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the feasibility of F-18-FDG PET-CT in detection of spinal cord disorders and neoplasms.

Subjects were 53 healthy subjects and a total of 22 patients with various spinal cord disorders and neoplasm at various locations, including 7 patients with intradural or extradural extramedullary tumor, 3 patients with intramedullary tumor, 4 patients with irradiated spinal cord, 6 patients with compressive myelopathy associated with severe spinal canal stenosis, and 2 patients with multiple sclerosis. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was used to quantitatively evaluate FDG uptake in the normal spinal cord and spinal cord lesions.

PET/CT fusion images provide objective estimation of FDG uptake in the normal spinal cord and at the lesions of various locations. In healthy subjects, the highest FDG uptake of spinal cord was noted in the cervical part with the mean SUVmax of 2.1 +/- 0.6, compared with those of 1.5 +/- 0.7 in thoracic part, 1.6 +/- 0.4 in upper lumbar part, and 1.0 +/- 0.2 in lower lumbar/sacral/coccygeal parts. In all the malignant neoplasmas, abnormal FDG uptake was identified with increase of SUVmax to 5.8 +/- 0.7 (range; 3.2 to 9.8), except for one false-negative case of tiny disseminated choldoma with SUVmax of 0.94. Abnormal F-18-FDG uptake was also seen in the lesions of multiple sclerosis, with SUV ranging from 3.4 to 3.9. Inversely, the irradiated spinal cord and compressive myelopathy showed decreased FDG uptake with SUVmax ranging from 0.74 to 0.9.  

With appreciation of physiological FDG uptake/distribution in the normal spinal cord, FDG PET/CT can be a promising tool for detecting metabolic change in spinal cord disorders and malignant neoplasms.

The ability of FDG PET/CT scan in evaluating spinal cord isorders and malignant neoplasms.  

Suga, K, Kawakami, Y, Seki, A, Feasibility of F-18-FDG PET/CT in Detection of Spinal Cord Disorders and Malignant Neoplasms.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6019565.html