Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Expanding role of 18F-fluoro-d-deoxyglucose PET and PET/CT in spinal infections

  • Review Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

18F-fluoro-d-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]-FDG PET) is successfully employed as a molecular imaging technique in oncology, and has become a promising imaging modality in the field of infection. The non-invasive diagnosis of spinal infections (SI) has been a challenge for physicians for many years. Morphological imaging modalities such as conventional radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are techniques frequently used in patients with SI. However, these methods are sometimes non-specific, and difficulties in differentiating infectious from degenerative end-plate abnormalities or postoperative changes can occur. Moreover, in contrast to CT and MRI, FDG uptake in PET is not hampered by metallic implant-associated artifacts. Conventional radionuclide imaging tests, such as bone scintigraphy, labeled leukocyte, and gallium scanning, suffer from relatively poor spatial resolution and lack sensitivity, specificity, or both. Initial data show that [18F]-FDG PET is an emerging imaging technique for diagnosing SI. [18F]-FDG PET appears to be especially helpful in those cases in which MRI cannot be performed or is non-diagnostic, and as an adjunct in patients in whom the diagnosis is inconclusive. The article reviews the currently available literature on [18F]-FDG PET and PET/CT in the diagnosis of SI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adatepe MH, Powell OM, Isaacs GH, Nichols K, Cefola R (1986) Hematogenous pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis: diagnostic value of radionuclide bone imaging. J Nucl Med 27:1680–1685

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. An HS, Seldomridge JA (2006) Spinal infections: diagnostic tests and imaging studies. Clin Orthop Relat Res 444:27–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Aydinli U, Karaeminogullari O, Tiskaya K (1999) Postoperative deep wound infection in instrumented spinal surgery. Acta Orthop Belg 65:182–187

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina TS, Sunner JL, Wiesel SW (1992) Postoperative diskitis: distinguishing early MR imaging findings from normal postoperative disk space changes. Radiology 184:765–771

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bredella MA, Essary B, Torriani M, Ouellette HA, Palmer WE (2008) Use of FDG-PET in differentiating benign from malignant compression fractures. Skeletal Radiol 37:405–413

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Britton KE, Wareham DW, Das SS, Solanki KK, Amaral H, Bhatnagar A, Katamihardja AH, Malamitsi J, Moustafa HM, Soroa VE, Sundram FX, Padhy AK (2002) Imaging bacterial infection with (99 m)Tc-ciprofloxacin (Infecton). J Clin Pathol 55:817–823

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chacko TK, Zhuang H, Nakhoda KZ, Moussavian B, Alavi A (2003) Applications of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the diagnosis of infection. Nucl Med Commun 24:615–624

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Dagirmanjian A, Schils J, McHenry MC (1999) MR imaging of spinal infections. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 7:525–538

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. de Winter F, Dierckx R, de Bondt P, Vogelaers D, Verdonk R, Van de Wiele C (2000) FDG PET as a single technique is more accurate than the combination bone scan/white blood cell scan in chronic orthopedic infections (COI). J Nucl Med 41:16P

    Google Scholar 

  10. de Winter F, Gemmel F, Van de Wiele C, Poffijn B, Uyttendaele D, Dierckx R (2003) 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for the diagnosis of infection in the postoperative spine. Spine 28:1314–1319

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. de Winter F, Gemmel F, Van Laere K, De Winter O, Poffijn B, Dierckx RA, Van de Wiele C (2004) 99mTc-ciprofloxacin planar and tomographic imaging for the diagnosis of infection in the postoperative spine: experience in 48 patients. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 31:233–239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. de Winter F, Huysse W, De Paepe P, Lambert B, Poffyn B, Dierckx R (2002) High F-18FDG uptake in a paraspinal textiloma. Clin Nucl Med 27:132–133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. de Winter F, Van de Wiele C, de Clercq D, Vogelaers D, de Bondt P, Dierckx RA (2000) Aseptic loosening of a knee prosthesis as imaged on FDG positron emission tomography. Clin Nucl Med 25:923

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. de Winter F, Van de Wiele C, Dumont F, Van Durme J, Solanki K, Britton K, Slegers G, Dierckx RA, Thierens H (2001) Biodistribution and dosimetry of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin, a promising agent for the diagnosis of bacterial infection. Eur J Nucl Med 28:570–574

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. de Winter F, Van de Wiele C, Vandenberghe S, de Bondt P, de Clercq D, D’Asseler Y, Dierckx R (2001) Coincidence camera FDG imaging for the diagnosis of chronic orthopedic infections: A feasibility study. J Comput Assist Tomogr 25:184–189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. de Winter F, Van de Wiele C, Vogelaers D, de Smet K, Verdonk R, Dierckx RA (2001) Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-position emission tomography: a highly accurate imaging modality for the diagnosis of chronic musculoskeletal infections. J Bone Joint Surg Am 83A:651–660

    Google Scholar 

  17. de Winter F, Vogelaers D, Gemmel F, Dierckx RA (2002) Promising role of 18-F-fluoro-d-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in clinical infectious diseases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 21:247–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Deyo RA, Nachemson A, Mirza SK (2004) Spinal-fusion surgery—the case for restraint. N Engl J Med 350:722–726

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dufour V, Feydy A, Rillardon L, Redondo A, Le Page L, Bert F, Belmatoug N, Fantin B (2005) Comparative study of postoperative and spontaneous pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Semin Arthritis Rheum 34:766–771

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Dumarey N, Blocklet D, Appelboom T, Tant L, Schoutens A (2002) Infecton is not specific for bacterial osteo-articular infective pathology. Eur J Nucl Med 29:530–535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Falagas ME, Valotassiou VJ, Papadouli D, Papadopoulos A, Malamitsi J (2006) 99mTechnetium-ciprofloxacin scintigraphy for the evaluation of spinal infections: a preliminary report. Clin Orthop Relat Res 444:34–37

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Gemmel F, Dumarey N, Palestro CJ (2008) Non-invasive imaging of complicated osteomyelitis: the added value of scintigraphic techniques. Curr Radiopharm 1:73–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Gemmel F, de Winter F, Van Laere K, Vogelaers D, Uyttendaele D, Dierckx RA (2004) 99mTc ciprofloxacin imaging for the diagnosis of infection in the postoperative spine. Nucl Med Commun 25:277–283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Gemmel F, Dumarey N, Palestro CJ (2006) Radionuclide imaging of spinal infections. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 33:1226–1237

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gemmel F, Dumarey N, Welling M (2009) Future diagnostic agents. Semin Nucl Med 39:11–26

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gillams AR, Chaddha B, Carter AP (1996) MR appearances of the temporal evolution and resolution of infectious spondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 166:903–907

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Goldsmith SJ, Vallabhajosula S (2009) Clinically proven radiopharmaceuticals for infection imaging: mechanisms and applications. Semin Nucl Med 39:2–10

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Govender S (2005) Spinal infections. J Bone Joint Surg Br 87:1454–1458

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Grane P, Josephsson A, Seferlis A, Tullberg T (1998) Septic and aseptic post-operative discitis in the lumbar spine : evaluation by MR imaging. Acta Radiol 39:108–115

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gratz S, Dörner J, Oestmann JW, Opitz M, Behr T, Meller J, Grabbe E, Becker W (2000) 67 Ga-citrate and 99Tc-MDP for estimating the severity of vertebral osteomyelitis. Nucl Med Commun 21:111–120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Gratz S, Braun HG, Behr TM, Meller J, Herrmann A, Conrad M, Rathmann D, Bertagnoli R, Willert HG, Becker W (1997) Photopenia in chronic vertebral osteomyelitis with technetium-99 m-antigranulocyte antibody (BW 250/183). J Nucl Med 38:211–216

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gratz S, Dorner J, Fischer U, Behr TM, Behe M, Altenvoerde G, Meller J, Grabbe E, Becker W (2002) F-18-FDG hybrid PET in patients with suspected spondylitis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 29:516–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Guhlmann A, Brecht-Krauss D, Suger G, Glatting G, Kotzerke J, Kinzl L, Reske SN (1998) Chronic osteomyelitis: detection with FDG PET and correlation with histopathologic findings. Radiology 206:749–754

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Guhlmann A, Brecht-Krauss D, Suger G, Glatting G, Kotzerke J, Kinzl L, Reske SN (1998) Fluorine-18-FDG PET and technetium-99 m antigranulocyte antibody scintigraphy in chronic osteomyelitis. J Nucl Med 39:2145–2152

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Hadjipavlou AG, Cesani-Vazquez F, Villaneuva-Meyer J, Mader JT, Necessary JT, Crow W, Jensen RE, Chaljub G (1998) The effectiveness of gallium citrate Ga 67 radionuclide imaging in vertebral osteomyelitis revisited. Am J Orthop 27:179–183

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Hartmann A, Eid K, Dora C, Trentz O, von Schulthess GK, Stumpe KD (2007) Diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in trauma patients with suspected chronic osteomyelitis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 34:704–714

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hong SH, Choi JY, Lee JW, Kim NR, Choi JA, Kang HS (2009) MR imaging assessment of the spine: infection or an imitation? Radiographics 29:599–612

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Kaim AH, Gross T, von Schulthess GK (2002) Imaging of chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Eur Radiol 12:1193–1202

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kaim AH, Weber B, Kurrer MO, Gottschalk J, von Schulthess GK, Buck A (2002) Autoradiographic quantification of 18F-FDG uptake in experimental soft-tissue abscesses in rats. Radiology 223:446–451

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kalicke T, Schmitz A, Risse JH, Arens S, Keller E, Hansis M, Schmitt O, Biersack HJ, Grunwald F (2000) Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET in infectious bone diseases: results of histologically confirmed cases. Eur J Nucl Med 27:524–528

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Keidar Z, Militianu D, Melamed E, Bar-Shalom R, Israel O (2005) The diabetic foot: initial experience with 18F-FDG PET/CT. J Nucl Med 46:444–449

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kim SJ, Lee JS, Suh KT, Kim IJ, Kim YK (2008) Differentiation of tuberculous and pyogenic spondylitis using double phase F-18 FDG PET. Open Med Imaging J 2:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Kubota R, Yamada S, Kubota K, Ishiwata K, Tamahashi N, Ido T (1992) Intratumoral distribution of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose in vivo: high accumulation in macrophages and granulation tissues studied by microautoradiography. J Nucl Med 33:1972–1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Kumar R, Basu S, Torigian D, Anand V, Zhuang H, Alavi A (2008) Role of modern imaging techniques for diagnosis of infection in the era of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Clin Microbiol Rev 21:209–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Kylanpaa-Back ML, Suominen RA, Salo SA, Soiva M, Korkala OL, Mokka RE (1999) Postoperative discitis: outcome and late magnetic resonance image evaluation of ten patients. Ann Chir Gynaecol 88:61–64

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Lazzeri E, Erba P, Perri M, Tascini C, Doria R, Giorgetti J, Mariani G (2008) Scintigraphic imaging of vertebral osteomyelitis with 111In-biotin. Spine 33:E198–E204

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Lazzeri E, Pauwels EK, Erba PA, Volterrani D, Manca M, Bodei L, Trippi D, Bottoni A, Cristofani R, Consoli V, Palestro CJ, Mariani G (2004) Clinical feasibility of two-step streptavidin/111In-biotin scintigraphy in patients with suspected vertebral osteomyelitis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 31:1505–1511

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Ledermann HP, Kaim A, Bongartz G, Steinbrich W (2000) Pitfalls and limitations of magnetic resonance imaging in chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Eur Radiol 10:1815–1823

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Ledermann HP, Schweitzer ME, Morrison WB, Carrino JA (2003) MR imaging findings in spinal infections: rules or myths? Radiology 228:506–514

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Liebergall M, Chaimsky G, Lowe J, Robin GC, Floman Y (1991) Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis with paralysis. Prognosis and treatment. Clin Orthop Relat Res 269:142–150

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Lisbona R, Derbekyan V, Novales-Diaz J, Veksler A (1993) Gallium-67 scintigraphy in tuberculous and nontuberculous infectious spondylitis. J Nucl Med 34:853–859

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Love C, Marwin SE, Tomas MB, Krauss ES, Tronco GG, Bhargava KK, Nichols KJ, Palestro CJ (2004) Diagnosing infection in the failed joint replacement: a comparison of coincidence detection 18F-FDG and 111In-labeled leukocyte/99 mTc-sulfur colloid marrow imaging. J Nucl Med 45:1864–1871

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Love C, Patel M, Lonner BS, Tomas MB, Palestro CJ (2000) Diagnosing spinal osteomyelitis: a comparison of bone and Ga-67 scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging. Clin Nucl Med 25:963–977

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Ma LD, Frassica FJ, Bluemke DA, Fishman EK (1997) CT and MRI evaluation of musculoskeletal infection. Crit Rev Diagn Imaging 38:535–568

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Maurer AH, Chen DC, Camargo EE, Wong DF, Wagner HN Jr, Alderson PO (1981) Utility of three-phase skeletal scintigraphy in suspected osteomyelitis: concise communication. J Nucl Med 22:941–949

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Meller J, Koster G, Liersch T, Siefker U, Lehmann K, Meyer I, Schreiber K, Altenvoerde G, Becker W (2002) Chronic bacterial osteomyelitis: prospective comparison of F-18-FDG imaging with a dual-head coincidence camera and In-111-labelled autologous leucocyte scintigraphy. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 29:53–60

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Meller J, Sahlmann CO, Liersch T, Hao TP, Alavi A (2007) Nonprosthesis orthopedic applications of (18)F fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET in the detection of osteomyelitis. Radiol Clin North Am 45:719–733

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Meyers SP, Wiener SN (1991) Diagnosis of hematogenous pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis by magnetic resonance imaging. Arch Intern Med 151:683–687

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Mochizuki T, Tsukamoto E, Kuge Y, Kanegae K, Zhao S, Hikosaka K, Hosokawa M, Kohanawa M, Tamaki N (2001) FDG uptake and glucose transporter subtype expressions in experimental tumor and inflammation models. J Nucl Med 42:1551–1555

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Modic MT, Feiglin DH, Piraino DW, Boumphrey F, Weinstein MA, Duchesneau PM, Rehm S (1985) Vertebral osteomyelitis: assessment using MR. Radiology 157:157–166

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Paik JY, Lee KH, Choe YS, Choi Y, Kim BT (2004) Augmented 18F-FDG uptake in activated monocytes occurs during the priming process and involves tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C. J Nucl Med 45:124–128

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Palestro CJ, Kim CK, Swyer AJ, Vallabhajosula S, Goldsmith SJ (1991) Radionuclide diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis: indium-111-leukocyte and technetium-99 m-methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy. J Nucl Med 32:1861–1865

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Palestro CJ, Love C, Miller TT (2007) Diagnostic imaging tests and microbial infections. Cell Microbiol 9:2323–2333

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Palestro CJ, Torres MA (1997) Radionuclide imaging in orthopedic infections. Semin Nucl Med 27:334–345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Pauwels EKJ, Ribeiro MJ, Stoot JHMB, McCready VR, Bourguignon M, Maziere B (1998) FDG accumulation and tumor biology. Nucl Med Biol 25:317–322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Roelants V, Tang T, Ide C, Laloux P (2002) Cold vertebra on (111)In-white blood cell scintigraphy. Semin Nucl Med 32:236–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Rosen RS, Fayad L, Wahl RL (2006) Increased 18F-FDG uptake in degenerative disease of the spine: characterization with 18F-FDG PET/CT. J Nucl Med 47:1274–1280

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Sarda L, Cremieux AC, Lebellec Y, Meulemans A, Lebtahi R, Hayem G, Genin R, Delahaye N, Huten D, Le Guludec D (2003) Inability of 99 mTc-ciprofloxacin scintigraphy to discriminate between septic and sterile osteoarticular diseases. J Nucl Med 44:920–926

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Schiesser M, Stumpe KDM, Trentz O, Kossmann T, von Schulthess GK (2003) Detection of metallic implant-associated infections with FDG PET in patients with trauma: correlation with microbiologic results. Radiology 226:391–398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Schlaeffer F, Mikolich DJ, Mates SM (1987) Technetium Tc 99m diphosphonate bone scan. False-normal findings in elderly patients with hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis. Arch Intern Med 147:2024–2026

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Schmitz A, Risse JH, Grunwald F, Gassel F, Biersack HJ, Schmitt O (2001) Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings in spondylodiscitis: preliminary results. Eur Spine J 10:534–539

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Schmitz A, Risse JH, Textor J, Zander D, Biersack HJ, Schmitt O, Palmedo H (2002) FDG-PET findings of vertebral compression fractures in osteoporosis: preliminary results. Osteoporos Int 13:755–761

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Seabold JE, Nepola JV (1999) Imaging techniques for evaluation of postoperative orthopedic infections. Q J Nucl Med 43:21–28

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Siaens RH, Rennen HJ, Boerman OC, Dierckx R, Slegers G (2004) Synthesis and comparison of 99mTc-enrofloxacin and 99mTc-ciprofloxacin. J Nucl Med 45:2088–2094

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Stabler A, Reiser MF (2001) Imaging of spinal infection. Radiol Clin North Am 39:115–135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Strobel K, Stumpe KD (2007) PET/CT in musculoskeletal infection. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 11:353–364

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Stumpe KD, Dazzi H, Schaffner A, von Schulthess GK (2000) Infection imaging using whole-body FDG-PET. Eur J Nucl Med 27:822–832

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Stumpe KD, Strobel K (2006) 18F FDG-PET imaging in musculoskeletal infection. Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 50:131–142

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Stumpe KD, Zanetti M, Weishaupt D, Hodler J, Boos N, von Schulthess GK (2002) FDG positron emission tomography for differentiation of degenerative and infectious endplate abnormalities in the lumbar spine detected on MR imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol 179:1151–1157

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Tali ET, Gultekin S (2005) Spinal infections. Eur Radiol 15:599–607

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Tay BK, Deckey J, Hu SS (2002) Spinal infections. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 10:188–197

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Termaat MF, Raijmakers PG, Scholten HJ, Bakker FC, Patka P, Haarman HJ (2005) The accuracy of diagnostic imaging for the assessment of chronic osteomyelitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 87:2464–2471

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Tsiodras S, Falagas ME (2006) Clinical assessment and medical treatment of spine infections. Clin Orthop Relat Res 444:38–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Tyrrell PN, Cassar-Pullicino VN, McCall IW (1999) Spinal infection. Eur Radiol 9:1066–1077

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Van Acker F, Nuyts J, Maes A, Vanquickenborne B, Stuyck J, Bellemans J, Vleugels S, Bormans G, Mortelmans L (2001) FDG-PET, Tc-99m-HMPAO white blood cell SPET and bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of painful total knee arthroplasties. Eur J Nucl Med 28:1496–1504

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Van Goethem JW, Parizel PM, van den Hauwe L, Van de Kelft E, Verlooy J, De Schepper AM (2000) The value of MRI in the diagnosis of postoperative spondylodiscitis. Neuroradiology 42:580–585

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Van Goethem JWM, Parizel PM, Jinkins JR (2002) Review article: MRI of the postoperative lumbar spine. Neuroradiology 44:723–739

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Varma R, Lander P, Assaf A (2001) Imaging of pyogenic infectious spondylodiskitis. Radiol Clin North Am 39:203–213

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Vinjamuri S, Hall AV, Solanki KK, Bomanji J, Siraj Q, O’Shaughnessy E, Das SS, Britton KE (1996) Comparison of 99mTc infecton imaging with radiolabelled white-cell imaging in the evaluation of bacterial infection. Lancet 347:233–235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Walker RC, Jones-Jackson LB, Martin W, Habibian MR, Delbeke D (2007) New imaging tools for the diagnosis of infection. Future Microbiol 2:527–554

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Welling M, Stokkel M, Balter J, Sarda-Mantel L, Meulemans A, Le Guludec D (2008) The many roads to infection imaging. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 35:848–849

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Whalen JL, Brown ML, McLeod R, Fitzgerald R-HJ (1991) Limitations of indium leukocyte imaging for the diagnosis of spine infections. Spine 16:193–197

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. Yamada S, Kubota K, Kubota R, Ido T, Tamahashi N (1995) High accumulation of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose in turpentine-induced inflammatory tissue. J Nucl Med 36:1301–1306

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  94. Zhuang HM, Alavi A (2002) 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic imaging in the detection and monitoring of infection and inflammation. Semin Nucl Med 32:47–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Zhuang HM, Duarte PS, Pourdehand M, Shnier D, Alavi A (2000) Exclusion of chronic osteomyelitis with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic imaging. Clin Nucl Med 25:281–284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  96. Zijlstra S, Gunawan J, Freytag C, Burchert W (2006) Synthesis and evaluation of fluorine-18 labelled compounds for imaging of bacterial infections with pet. Appl Radiat Isot 64:802–807

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, KCL, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Borniastraat 34, 8934 AD, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    Filip Gemmel

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    Paul C. Rijk

  3. Department of Radiology, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    James M. P. Collins

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Thierry Parlevliet

  5. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Katrin D. Stumpe

  6. Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Christopher J. Palestro

Authors
  1. Filip Gemmel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul C. Rijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James M. P. Collins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thierry Parlevliet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Katrin D. Stumpe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Christopher J. Palestro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Filip Gemmel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gemmel, F., Rijk, P.C., Collins, J.M.P. et al. Expanding role of 18F-fluoro-d-deoxyglucose PET and PET/CT in spinal infections. Eur Spine J 19, 540–551 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1251-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1251-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation