Abstract
This mini-review aims to qualitatively analyze the diagnostic performance of FDG PET in patients with diagnosis or suspected large vessel vasculitis (LVV). The future perspectives of PET in this field are also described. A comprehensive computer literature search of case–control studies published in PubMed/MEDLINE database in the last 10 years and regarding the diagnostic performance of FDG PET in LVV was carried out. Patient preparation, FDG PET image acquisition, and interpretation criteria were analyzed with respect to the recent joint procedural recommendations in LVV. We have summarized the methodological aspects and the diagnostic performances of FDG PET in detecting LVV considering 15 articles published in the literature. The data confirm the good diagnostic performance of FDG PET in this setting, using both visual and semiquantitative analysis. However, some heterogeneity has been found in several methodological aspects, as well as in the results of the included studies. Overall, FDG PET has a good diagnostic performance for the detection of active disease in LVV. Future prospective studies, more consistent with the joint procedural recommendations in LVV, are needed to support the use of standardized procedures and reproducible criteria for defining the presence of LVV with FDG PET/CT. Hybrid imaging and novel radiopharmaceuticals, more specific than FDG, are the future of PET in this field.
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