Abstract
The role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in the diagnosis and follow-up of infectious diseases has expanded recently. The aim of this report is to communicate our experience regarding its role in the diagnosis and management of occult bacterial infections in children. We present three pediatric patients with occult bacterial infections and negative conventional studies in whom 18F-FDG PET/CT had a significant effect on clinical management. One patient had streptococcal endocarditis and prolonged fever. 18F-FDG PET/CT identified pneumonia and osteomyelitis, and was also used to monitor therapeutic response. Other patient had a cerebrospinal shunt fluid infection. 18F-FDG PET/CT was used to determine the exact localization of infection and establish the best surgical approach. The last patient had fever of unknown origin. 18F-FDG PET/CT identified splenic abscesses, which were surgically treated. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT should be considered as a useful diagnostic tool in children with suspected bacterial infections, if conventional diagnostic imaging techniques have failed to yield positive results.
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The authors declare to have no conflicts of interest. No funding was received for this work.
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Two of the cases included in this report were presented at the 6th Meeting of the Spanish Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (Bilbao, Spain, March 2012. Poster nos. 44 and 45).
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del Rosal, T., Goycochea, W.A., Méndez-Echevarría, A. et al. 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of occult bacterial infections in children. Eur J Pediatr 172, 1111–1115 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-1983-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-013-1983-x