PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Follow-up PET/CT of alveolar echinococcosis: Comparison of metabolic activity and immunodiagnostic testing.

  • Lars Husmann,
  • Ansgar Deibel,
  • Stephan Skawran,
  • Bruno Ledergerber,
  • Urs J Muehlematter,
  • Barbara Hasse,
  • Martin W Huellner,
  • Caecilia S Reiner,
  • Beat Muellhaupt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270695
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 6
p. e0270695

Abstract

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PurposeTo investigate the potential role of follow-up 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in therapy control of inoperable patients with alveolar echinococcosis.Materials and methodsIn this single-center retrospective cohort study, 48 PET/CT of 16 patients with confirmed alveolar echinococcosis were analysed. FDG-uptake of the most active echinococcosis manifestation was measured (i.e., maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and in relation to background activity in normal liver tissue (SUVratio)) and compared to immunodiagnostic testing. For clinical patient follow-up, patient demographics, laboratory data, including E. granulosus hydatid fluid (EgHF) antibody units (AU) as well as clinical and treatment information were assessed for all patients at the time of PET/CT, and at the last recorded clinical visit.ResultsMetabolic activity of PET/CT measured in the echinococcosis manifestation was significantly correlated with EgHF AU (p ConclusionIn inoperable patients with alveolar echinococcosis, the course of metabolic activity in follow-up PET/CT is associated to the course EgHF antibody levels. Both parameters may potentially be used to evaluate the course of the disease and potentially predict the duration of benzimidazole therapy.