Relationship between a chronically painful trapezius muscle and its metabolic state analyzed with PET/CT

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2010 Jul;110(1):54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2010.02.028.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the intramuscular metabolic state in chronically painful muscles using positron-emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT).

Study design: The study included 140 consecutive noncancer subjects who underwent PET/CT screening for a physical checkup (mean age 56.0 +/- 10.22 y). The demographic data and information on pain in the neck/shoulder region were obtained using a questionnaire. The subjects who had an awareness of pain in the neck/shoulder region for >6 months were regarded to be pain subjects (n = 39). The minimal and maximal standardized uptake values (SUV) of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) of the trapezius muscle in each subject were automatically calculated.

Results: The unpaired t test revealed that both the minimal and the maximal SUVs were significantly lower in the pain subjects than in the asymptomatic subjects. A multiple linear regression analysis also demonstrated a significant association between pain in the neck/shoulder region and the SUVs in the trapezius muscle.

Conclusions: Uptake of (18)F-FDG was lower in the chronically painful trapezius muscle.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Buttocks
  • Chronic Disease
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glucose / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Neck Pain / metabolism*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Scapula
  • Sex Factors
  • Shoulder
  • Shoulder Pain / metabolism*
  • Smoking
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Whole Body Imaging

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glucose