Early Evaluation of Inflammatory Focus and Treatment Response Using 18F-Sodium Fluoride Bone Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography in Patients with Metallic Implants: A Case Report
Ji Hae Moon,
Sang Mi Lee,
Chang-Hwa Hong,
Jeong Won Lee
Affiliations
Ji Hae Moon
Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea
Sang Mi Lee
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea
Chang-Hwa Hong
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea
Jeong Won Lee
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, Korea
We report a case of a 76-year-old woman with elevated serum C-reactive protein levels for two weeks after spinal surgery. 99mTc-labeled white blood cell scan and dual 18F-sodium-fluoride (18F-NaF) bone positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) were used to detect the site of inflammation. Using non-attenuation corrected images, soft tissue inflammation was detected without metal artifact. Antibiotic treatment attenuated inflammation as seen in an early-phase scan using follow-up 18F-NaF bone PET/CT. This case demonstrates the role of 18FNaF bone PET/CT in the detection of inflammation sites, and can be used to evaluate treatment response in patients with metallic implants.
