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FDG PET/CT imaging features and clinical utility in COVID-19.
Yeh, Randy; Elsakka, Ahmed; Wray, Rick; Johnston, Rocio Perez; Gangai, Natalie C; Yarmohammadi, Hooman; Schoder, Heiko; Pandit-Taskar, Neeta.
  • Yeh R; Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America. Electronic address: yehr@mskcc.org.
  • Elsakka A; Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America; Interventional Radiology Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
  • Wray R; Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
  • Johnston RP; Body Imaging Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
  • Gangai NC; Body Imaging Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
  • Yarmohammadi H; Interventional Radiology Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
  • Schoder H; Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
  • Pandit-Taskar N; Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States of America.
Clin Imaging ; 80: 262-267, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1347542
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

To determine the imaging findings and potential clinical utility of FDG PET/CT in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

METHODS:

We performed a single institution retrospective review of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) who underwent FDG PET/CT for routine cancer care between March 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020, during the height of the pandemic in New York City, New York, United States. PET/CT scans were retrospectively reviewed for imaging findings suspicious for COVID-19. For positive scans, PET and CT findings were recorded, including location, FDG avidity (SUVmax) and CT morphology. Patient demographics and COVID-19 specific clinical data were collected and analyzed with respect to PET/CT scan positivity, lung SUVmax, and time interval between PET/CT and RT-PCR.

RESULTS:

Thirty-one patients (21 males and 10 females, mean age 57 years ± 16) were evaluated. Thirteen of 31 patients had positive PET/CT scans, yielding a detection rate of 41.9%. Patients with positive scans had significantly higher rates of symptomatic COVID-19 infection (77% vs 28%, p = 0.01) and hospitalizations (46% vs. 0%, p = 0.002) compared to patients with negative scans. Eleven of 13 patients (84.6%) with positive scans had FDG-avid lung findings, with mean lung SUVmax of 5.36. Six of 13 patients (46.2%) had extrapulmonary findings of FDG-avid thoracic lymph nodes. The detection rate was significantly lower when the scan was performed before RT-PCR versus after RT-PCR (18.8% (n = 3/16) vs. 66.7% (n = 10/15), p = 0.009). Lung SUVmax was not associated with COVID-19 symptoms, severity, or disease course.

CONCLUSION:

FDG PET/CT has limited sensitivity for detecting COVID-19 infection. However, a positive PET scan is associated with higher risk of symptomatic infection and hospitalizations, which may be helpful in predicting disease severity.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Clin Imaging Journal subject: Diagnostic Imaging Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Clin Imaging Journal subject: Diagnostic Imaging Year: 2021 Document Type: Article