The utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography in relapsing polychondritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare chronic autoimmune inflammation of the cartilage associated with life-threatening respiratory complications. Currently, no clear role of imaging modalities such as 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) is defined in the literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis provide current evidence on the PET-positivity rate and utility in relapsing polychondritis. Prospective or retrospective studies with more than five patients of suspected relapsing polychondritis who underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT during their management and reported a PET-positivity rate were included. Low-sample-size studies describing chondritis due to other aetiologies or utilizing PET-based radiopharmaceuticals other than FDG were excluded. A systematic search using relevant keywords was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) to include studies up to 25 April 2025. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used for risk-of-bias analysis. Data were analysed using the R software package (v4.3.1; 2023). Out of 962 articles, three with a total of 97 patients were included. With a pooled PET-positivity rate of 94% [95% confidence interval (CI): 73–99%, I 2 = 0%, P = 0.76] and a pooled baseline SUVmax of 4.0 (95% CI: 3.5–4.6, I 2 = 32%, P = 0.23), 18 F-FDG PET identified asymptomatic cartilage involvement in more than 25% patients and PET parameters correlated well with inflammatory markers. It had a higher positivity rate for inaccessible sites, such as peripheral airways, and was crucial in treatment monitoring. The pooled PET-positivity rate of 18 F-FDG PET in relapsing polychondritis is high but requires prospective large-sample-size studies to explore the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic implications of 18 F-FDG PET in relapsing polychondritis.