18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography as a metabolic marker for functional assessment of spinal tuberculosis after early decompression surgery.

Tuberculosis (TB) of the spine is the most important extra pulmonary form of TB. The lytic destructive variant of spinal TB can destroy the intervertebral discs, vertebral body, collapse, kyphotic deformity, and spinal cord compression. Complicated Pott's disease if not managed early can lead to neurological deficits, so there is a need for early surgical decompression, compliant anti-tubercular therapy, and response evaluation tool. We present two cases of multilevel dorsal spinal TB diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging spine and baseline 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan. They underwent early decompression with internal fixation and were followed up for 18 months with serial 18F-FDG PET/CT at 3rd and 18th month, respectively. One patient showed an early complete metabolic response and excellent functional recovery. Another patient showed progressive disease (drug-resistant status) and delayed functional recovery. 18F-FDG PET/CT has an excellent role in assessing response to therapy and thus helps to achieve therapeutic endpoint.

Rapidly Progressing Renal Cell Cancer of the Left Native Kidney in a Renal Transplant Recipient With Unusual Sites of Metastasis Demonstrated in Serial 18F-FDG PET/CT.

An end-stage renal disease patient underwent renal transplantation 18 years back and was on triple immunosuppression for acute rejection. She presented with left-sided abdominal lump and underwent ultrasound and noncontrast CT scan, which revealed an exophytic mass lesion in atrophic left kidney (16.2 × 13.1 × 14 cm). Baseline F-FDG PET/CT revealed a large avid exophytic mass (SUVmax 23, 17 × 14 × 13) in atrophic left kidney, with multiple retroperitoneal lymphadenopathies and a suspicious lung nodule. She underwent left open radical nephrectomy. Follow-up PET/CT after 1 month revealed multiple soft tissue deposits in operative bed and other unusual metastatic sites.

18F-FDG PET/CT of Tuberculosis Meningitis and Carotid Pseudoaneurysm.

A 26-year-old woman presented with a headache, left-sided weakness of the body, and pulsatile swelling above the sternal notch. She was treated for abdominal tuberculosis in the past, two years later she developed miliary tuberculosis and was put on modified regimen of antitubercular drugs in view of drug induced hepatitis. Ultrasound neck revealed saccular aneurysm measuring 4 x 3 cm, located in between common carotid arteries with an eccentric thrombus. MRI brain revealed multiple tuberculoma with thick basal meningeal enhancement. Cerebrospinal fluid was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. F-FDG PET/CT was done to delineate the extent of the disease.

Thoraco-Abdominal Duplication Cyst- Role Tc-99m Pertechnetate SPECT-CT Scintigraphy in Localising Ectopic Gastric Mucosa.

Thoraco-abdominal duplication cyst, a congenital malformation of the posterior primitive foregut rarely presents with anaemia. Ectopic gastric mucosa is seen in around 20%-30% of the enteric duplication cysts. We report the scintigraphic findings of one such case which helped in final diagnosis and management of the patient.