Application of Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective To assess the value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose(~(18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography(PET) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods Fifty-three patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were imaged with ~(18)F-FDG-PET.~(18)F-FDG-PET data were analyzed retrospectively with visual method and semiquantitative method.When pulmonary tuberculosis with abnormal ~(18)F-FDG uptake appeared in PET scans confirmed by visual method,their maximum standard uptake value(SUV_(max)),mean standard uptake value(SUV_(mean)) and standard uptake value of normal lung(SUV_(lung)) were measured using semiquantitative method. Results Thirty-six pulmonary tuberculous nodules could be detected by ~(18)F-FDG-PET,and were diagnosed active tuberculosis with visual method.SUV_(max)(2.77±1.20) and SUV_(mean)(2.15±0.86) were higher than SUV_(lung)(0.41±0.09,Z=-5.232,P0.01;Z=-5.232,P0.01).Correlations were not found between SUV_(max),SUV_(mean) and nodule size(D_(max),D_(min)),SUV_(lung),age,blood glucose level in these 36 patients(P0.05).Seventeen fibrosis and calcification cases without caseous necrosis were not found abnormal in ~(18)F-FDG-PET.Conclusion ~(18)F-FDG-PET is useful in diagnosing active tuberculosis,extent of tuberculosis and guiding therapeutic regimen.