RESUMO
Diagnosing bone infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation is problematic since many of the early signs of infection are similar to normal post-surgical changes. We used a rabbit osteomyelitis model to evaluate the use of 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]-fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as a means of detecting post-operative infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation. Comparisons were made between infected and non-infected rabbits in which infection with Staphylococcus aureus was initiated at the time of surgery. Weekly PET scans were obtained 30 and 60 min after the introduction of FDG and analyzed based on standardized uptake values (SUV) at the surgical site and visual assessment of the presence or absence of infection. Concurrent X-rays were taken immediately prior to scanning. At 4weeks post-operatively, animals were sacrificed for histologic and bacteriologic confirmation of infection. Uptake of FDG was evident in the bone of all rabbits on day 1 post-surgery, however, SUV comparisons from the surgical site could not be used to distinguish between the infected and uninfected groups until day 15. Visual analysis of FDG-PET scans revealed a significant difference (p<0.01) between the infected and uninfected groups as early as day 8. This was due in part to the ability to visualize regional lymph nodes by FDG-PET.
Assuntos
Fluordesoxiglucose F18 , Inflamação/diagnóstico por imagem , Osteomielite/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/diagnóstico por imagem , Infecções Estafilocócicas/diagnóstico por imagem , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Masculino , CoelhosRESUMO
Medical imaging is migrating from anatomic imaging to functional imaging and fused anatomic/functional imaging. The technology is being adapted for biomedical research using both clinical and small animal scanners. The ability to externally image real-time physiologic processes in both normal and deranged conditions, including various models to image gene expression, apoptosis, or drug biodistribution, has powerful impact on the exploration of biomedical and fundamental biological research. Positron emission tomography (PET) has a unique ability to not only provide such images but also to do so with high resolution (typically 1-2mm resolution for small animal scanners) and to provide both relative and absolute quantitation. This technology is revolutionizing biomedical and biological research. This article reviews the underlying principles involved in this technology, gives a brief history of its development, and then introduces the interested researcher to some of the important techniques that could be of use.
Assuntos
Pesquisa Biomédica/instrumentação , Pesquisa Biomédica/métodos , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão/instrumentação , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão/métodos , Animais , Pesquisa Biomédica/tendências , Humanos , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão/tendênciasRESUMO
PET is one of the most exciting advancements in medicine in many years. Its ability to image physiology rather than anatomy, combined with the wide range of organic "probes" or molecules that can be utilized, offer remarkable possibilities for medical imaging in the coming years.