A Long-term Persistent Vascular Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake in a Patient with Large-vessel Vasculitis

Intern Med. 2022 Feb 1;61(3):357-360. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.7772-21. Epub 2021 Jul 30.

Abstract

We herein report a case of large-vessel vasculitis in a 57-year-old woman who developed an intermittent fever and weight loss. While contrast-enhanced computed tomography was noncontributory, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed the diffuse, intense uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the aorta and its branches. Although she had no signs of relapse after successful oral corticosteroid therapy, PET-CT at 30 months revealed a persistent FDG uptake in the large vessels, which warranted regular follow-up imaging for vascular complications. In cases with an intense FDG uptake at the diagnosis, PET-CT follow-up after clinical remission may help predict the risk of relapse and vascular complications.

Keywords: Takayasu arteritis; diagnosis; follow-up; giant cell arteritis; large vessel vasculitis; positron emission tomography-computed tomography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aorta
  • Arteritis*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Giant Cell Arteritis*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18