University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Clin Rheumatol. 2023 Aug;42(8):2163-2171. doi: 10.1007/s10067-023-06558-z. Epub 2023 Apr 22.
This study aims to determine the number and type of incidental findings detected on positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in a cohort of patients with large vessel vasculitis (LVV). Reports from PET/CT studies along with the medical charts of a cohort of patients with LVV from a Rheumatology clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, were retrospectively reviewed. Incidental findings from PET/CT, along with follow-up studies and their diagnosis were documented. The data was analyzed with descriptive statistics. The disease activity of 40 patients, with an average age of 65.8 years, was investigated using PET/CT. A statistically significant increase in incidental findings with age was observed. A total of 61 incidental findings were found in 26 (65%) patients. Of these findings, 25 were in the abdomen and pelvis. The most common incidental finding was lymphadenopathy. Follow-up investigations of incidental findings lead to 5 clinically significant findings including metastatic adenocarcinoma, Mycobacterium avium infection, papillary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and stroke. PET/CT is a reliable tool for determining disease activity in LVV patients and the implications of incidental findings need to be discussed with patients by the ordering care provider. This study demonstrates that incidental findings on PET/CT scan are common and increase with age in patients with LVV. A significant number of patients required further investigation for incidental findings. Key Points • Incidental findings on PET/CT scan are common in our patient population with LVV. • Frequency of incidental findings in our patient population with LVV increased with age. • Findings from this study can be used by ordering providers to have an informed conversation with their patient about the frequency of incidental findings on PET/CT scans.
这项研究旨在确定在一组大血管血管炎（LVV）患者的正电子发射断层扫描（PET）/CT 中检测到的偶然发现的数量和类型。对来自加拿大阿尔伯塔省埃德蒙顿的风湿病诊所的 LVV 患者队列的 PET/CT 研究报告和病历进行了回顾性审查。记录了 PET/CT 的偶然发现、随访研究及其诊断。使用描述性统计对数据进行了分析。使用 PET/CT 研究了 40 名平均年龄为 65.8 岁的患者的疾病活动情况。观察到偶然发现随年龄呈统计学显著增加。在 26 名（65%）患者中发现了 61 个偶然发现。这些发现中有 25 个在腹部和骨盆。最常见的偶然发现是淋巴结病。对偶然发现的随访调查导致了 5 个临床显著发现，包括转移性腺癌、鸟分枝杆菌感染、甲状腺乳头状癌、嗜铬细胞瘤和中风。PET/CT 是确定 LVV 患者疾病活动的可靠工具，需要由开具医嘱的医疗服务提供者与患者讨论偶然发现的影响。这项研究表明，在 LVV 患者的 PET/CT 扫描中偶然发现很常见，并且随着年龄的增长而增加。相当数量的患者需要进一步调查偶然发现。要点 • 在我们的 LVV 患者人群中，PET/CT 扫描上的偶然发现很常见。 • 我们的 LVV 患者人群中偶然发现的频率随年龄增长而增加。 • 这项研究的结果可以为开具医嘱的提供者提供信息，以便与患者就 PET/CT 扫描上偶然发现的频率进行知情对话。
