Abstract:
Objective To compare the difference between 18F-FDG PET and CT for evaluating the activity of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Methods 18F-FDG PET-CT was performed in 31 pulmonary tuberculosis patients, the activity of the tuberculosis lesions was evaluated by PET and CT images, the results of the two imaging methods were compared separately.
Results The results obtained with the two imaging methods were consistent in 26 cases and inconsistent in 5 cases. 6 cases which CT diagnosed as inactive tuberculosis (healed lesions) were also judged as inactive lesions by PET imaging. In 16 cases, CT displayed that most of the lesions were calcified and associated with little streaks and diagnosed as inactive tuberculosis (obsolete lesions), among them PET judged 5 cases as active lesions, of which 3 cases with partly calcified lesion associated with mild radioactive uptake, 2 cases with streaks associated with mild radioactive uptake. 9 cases which CT diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis, PET judged as active lesions too.
Conclusions 18F-FDG PET and CT have the same judgment in diagnosing healed and active tuberculosis lesions, while 18F-FDG PET is superior to CT in evaluating the active lesions residue in obsolete lesions.