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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT)
10:02

Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT)

Published on: May 2, 2012

Diagnosis of abdominal aortic prosthesis infection with FDG-PET/CT

Hans Balink1, Michel M P J Reijnen

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. hans.balink@znb.nl

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
|October 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Aortic graft infection was diagnosed in a 79-year-old man using 2-deoxy-2-[F18]fluoro-d-glucose-positron emission tomographic/CT (FDG-PET/CT). This advanced imaging identified infection missed by standard CT, enabling timely surgical intervention and recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Nuclear Medicine

Background:

  • A 79-year-old male presented with recurrent fever and chills six years post-aortic bifurcation graft implantation.
  • Initial investigations revealed elevated infection parameters, but conventional computed tomographic (CT) scans did not indicate graft infection.

Observation:

  • Blood cultures identified multiple enteric bacteria, prompting further investigation.
  • A 2-deoxy-2-[F18]fluoro-d-glucose-positron emission tomographic/CT (FDG-PET/CT) scan was performed.
  • The FDG-PET/CT scan revealed characteristic ring-shaped pathological uptake at the proximal anastomosis site.

Findings:

  • Surgical exploration confirmed an infected aortic graft.
  • A 1-cm defect was noted in the distal duodenum.
  • Bacterial cultures from the explanted graft were positive for enteric bacteria.

Implications:

  • FDG-PET/CT is a valuable tool for diagnosing prosthetic graft infections, particularly when conventional imaging is inconclusive.
  • Early detection and surgical intervention are crucial for managing aortic graft infections.
  • Successful treatment involved graft explantation, repair of duodenal defect, and prolonged antibiotic/antimycotic therapy.

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