Decreased metabolic uptake in tuberculous pericarditis indicating response to antituberculosis therapy on FDG PET/CT

Early diagnosis and adequate treatment of tuberculosis are important for disease control and prevention of complication. However, diagnosing disease is frequently delayed because of difficulties of bacilli isolation or reproduction in cultures, and also, the decision of the efficiency of treatment sometimes can be impossible. FDG PET has become a promising imaging modality in the field of infection and inflammation, especially for the extension and severity of disease. Here, we describe an unusual case of tuberculous pericarditis that shows marked increased FDG uptake on initial scan, with decreasing metabolic activity on follow-up scan indicating response to antituberculosis therapy.