18-Fluorine-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Computer Tomography Imaging in Melioidosis: Valuable but Not Essential.

Author(s)
Bramwell, Joshua
Kovaleva, Natalia
Morigi, Joshua
Currie, Bart
Publication Date
2025-03-06
Abstract
Melioidosis is an endemic tropical disease caused by . It typically causes pulmonary disease and bacteraemia but can disseminate to cause multi-organ disease. 18-F FDG PET/CT has an evolving role in diagnosing other infectious diseases, especially where the pathogen or extent of infection is challenging to elucidate clinically and with conventional imaging (CT, US and MRI). We present a case series of patients diagnosed with melioidosis who also underwent 18-F FDG PET/CT from December 18th 2018 to September 30th 2022. Indications for imaging were categorised and analysed as to whether 18-F FDG PET/CT changed management over conventional imaging. Twenty-one 18-F FDG PET/CT scans were performed for sixteen patients. Two scans (9.5%) performed for pyrexia of unknown origin changed management in both cases. Twelve scans (57.1%) performed to ascertain the extent of dissemination of melioidosis changed management in only three (25%) cases. Five scans (23.8%) performed to monitor the response to treatment of known foci changed management in all five cases. Five scans (23.8%) performed for suspected or known malignancy changed management in three (60%) cases. 18-F FDG PET/CT is an emerging tool which improves diagnosis and changes the management of melioidosis when applied judiciously and for well-selected indications.
Affiliation
Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.
Infectious Diseases Department, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia.
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.
Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.
Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia.
Citation
Trop Med Infect Dis . 2025 Mar 6;10(3):69. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed10030069.
ISSN
2414-6366
OrcId
0009-0009-8342-7563
0000-0002-8878-8837
Pubmed ID
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40137823/?otool=iaurydwlib
Link
Subject
18-F FDG PET/CT
Burkholderia pseudomallei
melioidosis
pyrexia of unknown origin
Title
18-Fluorine-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Computer Tomography Imaging in Melioidosis: Valuable but Not Essential.
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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