Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Analysis of 18FDG PET/CT Imaging as a Tool for Studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Treatment in Non-human Primates
Published on: September 5, 2017
Persistent lung and vascular inflammation in mild to moderate COVID-19 survivors detected by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT: A
Shipra Verma1,2,3, Nick S R Lan1,2,4, Heidi Espedal5
1Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
Purpose:
Lingering inflammation after COVID-19 has been proposed as a contributor to long-term cardiovascular risk, yet the link between pulmonary and vascular inflammation remains insufficiently defined. This study aimed to quantify residual lung and vascular inflammation in individuals recovered from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 using ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and assess their association.
Methods:
Fifty-nine participants underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging at a median of 97 days (IQR: 77-112.5) following clinical recovery from COVID-19. Lung inflammation was assessed using standardised uptake value maximum (SUVmax), target-to-background ratio maximum and mean (TBRmax, TBRmean), and total lung glycolysis (TLG) in contracted lung volumes to reduce spill-in from mediastinal structures. Metrics were indexed to blood pool activity (TBR) and lung volume (TLGindex). Vascular inflammation was evaluated using TBRmax values of the thoracic aorta and the most diseased segment (MDS). Results were compared with eight COVID-naive individuals using identical protocols.
Results:
Compared with controls, individuals post-COVID-19 exhibited significantly elevated SUVmax in both lungs (p < 0.001), TBRmax in the left (p = 0.037) and right (p = 0.010) lungs, and TLG in the left lung (p = 0.018). Measures of vascular inflammation correlated significantly with TBRmax, TBRmean, and TLGindex in both lungs (all p < 0.05), suggesting a parallel inflammatory response.
Conclusion:
Persistent pulmonary inflammation is evident following mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and is associated with increased vascular inflammation. These findings suggest a mechanistic link between post-infectious lung and vascular inflammation, potentially contributing to elevated cardiovascular risk. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT enabled sensitive detection of subclinical inflammation in both compartments, highlighting the value of quantitative PET metrics in elucidating systemic inflammatory response following viral infection.
More Related Videos
![Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F3777.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
10:02Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT
Published on: May 2, 2012
08:05Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:29Positron Emission Tomography
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History