What's New in FDG-PET? Recent Advances in Imaging Hospitalized Patients and Infectious/Inflammatory Conditions

Despite growing clinical interest in targeted PET tracers, FDG remains a stalwart in PET imaging due to its widespread availability and applicability. Recent data support expanded clinical indications for FDG-PET in the evaluation of acutely ill patients. This review aims to summarize recent developments in PET imaging among acutely ill patients, emphasizing expanding benign indications. This review highlights updated guidelines and recent evidence regarding FDG-PET in the evaluation of infection, fever of unknown origin, vascular inflammation, and rheumatologic disorders. We underscore the results of recent studies published in the last 5 years from publication, primarily between 2019 and 2024. FDG-PET remains a cornerstone of PET imaging, and its value in benign and inflammatory conditions continues to grow. While FDG-PET is essential for outpatient oncology, it is increasingly used to image hospitalized patients, given its ability to diagnose and localize infection and inflammation.