The role of positron emission tomography in the assessment of cardiac sarcoidosis

Br J Radiol. 2019 Aug;92(1100):20190247. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20190247. Epub 2019 Jun 5.

Abstract

The myocardium and the cardiovascular system are often involved in patients with sarcoidosis. As therapy should be started as early as possible to avoid complications such as left ventricular dysfunction, a prompt and reliable diagnosis by means of non-invasive tests would be highly warranted. Among other techniques, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has emerged as a high sensitive tool to detect sites of inflammation before morphological changes are visible to conventional imaging techniques. We therefore aim at summarizing the most relevant findings in the literature on the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET in the diagnostic workup of cardiac sarcoidosis and to underline future perspectives.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18