Accidental diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia after 18F FDG PET/CT: a case series

Laura Olivari; Niccolò Riccardi; Paola Rodari; Dora Buonfrate; Stefania Diodato; Fabio Formenti; Andrea Angheben; Matteo Salgarello

doi:10.1007/s40336-020-00388-8

Accidental diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia after 18F FDG PET/CT: a case series

Clin Transl Imaging. 2020;8(5):393-400. doi: 10.1007/s40336-020-00388-8. Epub 2020 Sep 24.

Authors

Laura Olivari¹, Niccolò Riccardi², Paola Rodari², Dora Buonfrate², Stefania Diodato¹, Fabio Formenti², Andrea Angheben², Matteo Salgarello¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Don Angelo Sempreboni, 5, Cap 37024 Negrar Di Valpolicella, VR Italy.
² Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar Di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this case series is to illustrate possible [18F]-FDG uptake patterns associated to COVID-19.

Methods: Retrospective assessment of all Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans performed for any clinical / oncological reason from 1st April 2020 to 30th April 2020. Results of PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 were retrieved for all patients with lung consolidations and/or peripheral ground glass opacities characterized by increased metabolism to evaluate any possible association with the viral infection.

Results: Seven (4%) out of 172 FDG-PET scans were included. Six out of seven patients (85%) had positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, while one patient (15%) had possible (not PCR confirmed) COVID-19 pneumonia.

Conclusion: Suspicious accidental COVID-19 findings in Nuclear Medicine Department need to be reported and appropriately evaluated to implement proper supportive treatment and infection control measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnosis; FDG PET/CT; Ground-glass opacity; Imaging; SARS-CoV-2.