¹⁸F-sodium fluoride bone PET-CT in symptomatic lumbosacral transitional vertebra

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Pain Management

Background:

• Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) is a congenital anomaly that can cause lumbar back pain.
• Accurate diagnosis of pain origin in LSTV patients is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between 18F-NaF uptake and lumbar back pain in patients with LSTV.
• To evaluate the utility of 18F-NaF PET/CT in diagnosing pain associated with LSTV.

Main Methods:

• 55 patients with LSTV underwent integrated PET/CT after injection of 18F-NaF.
• 18F-NaF uptake was graded (0, 1, or 2) at the LSTV site.
• Correlation between uptake grade and symptom presence was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Symptomatic LSTV patients showed significantly higher 18F-NaF uptake (grade 2) compared to asymptomatic patients (grade 0).
• A strong linear trend was observed between 18F-NaF uptake intensity and symptom presence (p<0.0001).
• 18F-NaF uptake demonstrated high sensitivity (82%) and specificity (86%) for LSTV as a pain source.

Conclusions:

• 18F-NaF PET/CT is a valuable tool for evaluating back pain in LSTV patients.
• 18F-NaF can serve as a biomarker to assess LSTV as a potential cause of pain.