A Head-to-Head Comparison Between [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and 99mTechnetium-Hexamethylpropylene Amine Oxime (HMPAO)-Labeled Leukocyte Scintigraphy in a Case Series of Patients with
<b>Background:</b> Prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is a serious complication associated with vascular prostheses. Nuclear medicine techniques, including [<sup>18</sup>F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and <sup>99m</sup>technetium-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO)-labeled leukocyte (WBC) scintigraphy, are part of the MAGIC diagnostic criteria for PVGI. <b>Methods:</b> In this retrospective study, we analyzed eight patients with suspected PVGI who underwent both [<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT and WBC scintigraphy within an average of 8 days. <b>Results:</b> Of all eight patients (median age 69 years), three showed concordant positive results with both PET/CT and WBC, and their final diagnosis confirmed the presence of infection; five showed discordant results: in all five of these patients, PET/CT showed false-positive findings, whereas WBC correctly identified five true-negative cases. <b>Conclusions:</b> [<sup>18</sup>F]FDG PET/CT is highly sensitive but prone to false positives. WBC scintigraphy, combined with SPECT/CT, particularly in the evaluation of the treatment response, showed greater specificity, and it may warrant consideration as a MAGIC major diagnostic criterion for PVGI.
Authors
- Antonio De Leo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3761-5135)
- Michele Marconi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3291-5059)
- Marco Falcone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3813-8796)
- Elena Lazzeri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-2115)
- Raffaella Berchiolli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5307-7157)
- L Suardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6753-4793)
- Marina Scarpuzza
- Alice Ambrogio
Institutions
- University of Pisa (IT)
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2025-06-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14124352
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Infectious Aortic and Vascular Conditions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.01