Table 2.
[18F]FDG-PET/CT characteristics in the studies
| Study | Imaging modality | Injected activity | Interval [18F]FDG injection-image acquisition | Scan coverage | Image analysis | Definition of positive [18F]FDG-PET/CT finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camellino et al. [21] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 4.8–5.2 MBq/kg | Unclear | Skull base to knee | Visual | Visual ≥ 2b |
| Charpentier et al. [22] d,g | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 4.5 MBq/kg | 60 min | Vertex to mid-thigh | Visual | Absent |
| Cimmino et al. [23] e | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 4.8–5.2 MBq/kg | 60–90 min | Skull base to knee | Visual | Uptake higher than the liver |
| Devauchelle et al. (2016)d,g | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | Unclear | Unclear | Unclear | Semi-quantitative (SUVmax) | Absent |
| Henckaerts et al. [25] f | PET or PET/CT (low-dose CT or diagnostic/contrast-enhanced CT) | 4–5 MBq/kg | 45–60 min | Whole body | Visual |
1) Visual ≥ 2b 2) Composite PET score cut-off |
| Horikoshi et al. [26] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 3.7 MBq/kg, 130–370 MBq | 60 min | Vertex to knee | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) | ‘FDG accumulation’ above cut-off in ROC |
| Kaneko et al. [27] d,g | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 3.7 MBq/kg | 60 min | Vertex to proximal thigh | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) + pattern (diffuse/non-diffuse) | Visual ≥ 2b |
| Lund-Petersen et al. [28] g | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | Unclear | Unclear | Vertex to proximal thigh | Visual | ‘Nuclear medicine physician’s description’ based on visual evaluation |
| Owen et al. [29] g | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 289 ± 30 MBq | 60 min | Whole body and dedicated hand images | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) |
1) Visual ≥ 1a 2) Visual ≥ 2b |
| Owen et al. [30] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) |
285 ± 32 MBq (PMR) 276 ± 36 MBq (non-PMR)† |
60 min | Whole body | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) |
1) Visual ≥ 1a 2) SUVmax cut-off in ROC |
| Palard-Novello et al. [31] g | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 4 MBq/kg | 60 min | Skull base to mid-thigh | Semi-quantitative (SUVmax) | SUVmax > liver |
| Rehak et al. [33] f,g | PET or PET/CT (low-dose CT or diagnostic/contrast-enhanced CT) | 297–483 MBq (median 349 MBq) | 55–75 min | Skull base to proximal thigh | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) + target-to-liver ratio | Uptake higher than the liver |
| Rehak et al. [32] g | PET/CT (low-dose CT or diagnostic/contrast-enhanced CT) | 327–434 MBq (median 366 MBq) | 55–75 min | Skull base to proximal thigh | Semi-quantitative (SUVmax) + target-to-liver ratio | SUVmax > liver |
| Sondag et al. [34] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 4.5 MBq/kg | 60 min | Vertex to mid-thigh | Visual |
1) Visual ≥ 2b 2) Composite PET score cut-off |
| Takahashi et al. [35] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 370 MBq | 60 min | Vertex to knee | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) |
1) Visual ≥ 2b 2) Composite PET score cut-off |
| Wakura et al. [36] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 185–370 MBq (5–10 mCi) | 60 min | Skull to proximal thigh (as suggested by figure and table data) | Visual |
1) Visual = 3*,c 2) Composite PET score cut-off |
| Wendling et al. [37] h | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 4.5 MBq/kg | 60 min | Vertex to mid-thigh | Visual | Visual ≥ 1* |
| Yamashita et al. [39] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 370 MBq | 60 min | vertex to knee | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) |
1) Visual ≥ 2b 2) Composite PET score cut-off |
| Yamashita et al. [38] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 370 MBq | 60 min | Vertex to knee | Visual + semi-quantitative (SUVmax) | Visual ≥ 2b |
| Yuge et al. [40] | PET/CT (low-dose CT) | 185 MBq | 60 min | Vertex to proximal thigh (as suggested by figure and table data) | Visual + pattern (Y-shaped uptake along the interspinous bursae) | Visual > mediastinal blood pool |
*Presumed definition of positive [18F]FDG-PET/CT finding
†Mean ± standard deviation
aVisual 1 = [18F]FDG uptake less than the liver present
bVisual 2 = [18F]FDG uptake equal to the liver present
cVisual 3 = [18F]FDG uptake more than the liver present
dStudy not included in meta-analysis due to lack of relevant data
eStudy not included in meta-analysis due to inclusion of GCA patients without PMR
fStudy not included in meta-analysis due to [18F]FDG-PET/CT not performed in every patient (in some patients [18F]FDG-PET scan without CT)
gStudy not included in meta-analysis due to lack of a control group
hStudy not included in meta-analysis since it reported [18F]FDG uptake in muscles, which was not reported by other studies