Keiko Koyama MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sayaka Kodaira MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Azusa Tokue MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tetsuya Higuchi MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shigeru Ooshima, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshito Tsushima MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cardiac 18F-FDG PET is a useful method for identifying cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) lesion. How-ever, physiological FDG accumulation in the normal myocardium makes it difficult to detect active lesions as false positive finding. The purpose of this study was to assess accuracy of 18F-FDG accumulation in patients with CS.

PET was performed in 10 patients (1 male, 9 females) diagnosed with CS. Mean patient’s age was 65.3 (range, 49-81) years old. Total number of examination was 46. The examinations were classified into four groups: Group A, pre- steroid treatment (n = 10); Group B, recurrent CS (n = 6); Group C, monitoring response to steroid treatment [interval of 2 examinations was with-in a few months] (n = 22); and Group D, follow-up of CS activity [interval of two examinations was >10 months without cardiac event] (n = 8). To evaluate FDG accumulation, standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated. The image was evaluated using the American Heart Association 17-segments model of the left ventricle.

Mean SUV and (maximum SUV) of Groups A, B, C, and D were 4.91 (8.27), 5.56 (8.33), 3.08 (5.08), and 2.64 (4.85), respectively. The ratio of the maximum to minimum SUV of Groups A, B, C, and D were 2.85, 4.91, 2.70, and 2.60, respectively. The difference in mean SUV between Groups (A and B) and Group C was from 1.20 to 5.36. The difference in mean SUVs between Group B and Group C was from 5.69 to 2.07. In each patient, through examination series, segments showing higher standard deviation (SD) matched with higher maximum SUV segments. In each examination, SD of 17 segments was calculated. SD in Groups A [rage: 0.9-2.6] was significantly higher than that of Groups D [rage: 0.7-1.0] (p=0.04). SD in Groups B [rage: 1.0-2.7] was significantly higher than that of Groups D [rage: 0.7-1.0] (p=0.05).

PET using SUV is a useful method for the monitoring of the response to steroid treatment and following up of CS activity. In addition, SD of SUV, it may be able to predict the lesions which respond to steroid treatment.

Cardiac 18F-FDG PET is a useful method for identifying cardiac sarcoidosis lesion and SUV is a useful method for the monitoring of the response to steroid treatment and following up of CS activity.  

Koyama, K, Kodaira, S, Tokue, A, Higuchi, T, Ooshima, S, Tsushima, Y, Observing Variation of 18F-FDG Myocardial Accumulation to Detect Cardiac Involvement in Patients with Sarcoidosis over 6-year Follow-up Period.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14010824.html