PET Clinics RSS feed: Current Issue. As the clinical applications of positron emission tomography (PET) increase, the new PET Clinics brings together the combined expertise of leading authorities in the field to provide you incisive clinical reviews on advances in the use of PET and combined PET/CT. Published quarterly, PET Clinics provides concise, practical guidance on the clinical issues you face every day. It examines PET's effectiveness in cancer diagnosis and staging, as well as exploring PET's usefulness in the areas of dementia, myocardial viability, and other conditions. Full-color images featured throughout. Topics covered include Breast Cancer, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, Lymphoma, Lung Cancer, Cardiology, Pediatric Applications, Infection and Inflammation. As a bonus of your paid subscription, you will receive full, searchable online access to all issues of PET Clinics, enabling you to quickly find answers to your specific clinical questions. http://www.pet.theclinics.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. PET Clinics1556-859872April 2012 © 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000429/abstract?rss=yesContributors10.1016/S1556-8598(12)00042-9PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-Xiiiivhttp://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000430/abstract?rss=yesContents10.1016/S1556-8598(12)00043-0PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-Xvviihttp://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000442/abstract?rss=yesForthcoming Issues10.1016/S1556-8598(12)00044-2PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-Xviiiviiihttp://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000594/abstract?rss=yesCME Accreditation Page and Author Disclosure10.1016/j.cpet.2012.03.001PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-Xixixhttp://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000351/abstract?rss=yesThe introduction of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxglucose (FDG) in 1976 as a joint effort between investigators at the University of Pennsylvania and Brookhaven National Laboratory opened a new era in medical imaging. Although the initial intent of scientists involved in this project was to determine central nervous system function in normal and diseased states, FDG has proven to be of great value in many other domains over the last three decades. Soon after its introduction, FDG was employed to characterize brain tumors, particularly when the differential diagnosis of tumor recurrence versus radiation-induced necrosis was of clinical concern. With the introduction of whole body imaging, numerous malignancies were examined with FDG for accurate diagnosis, staging, response to therapy, and recurrence. In fact, this application has become the most valuable contribution of this agent to the practice of medicine. However, with a wider spread utilization of this methodology, it became apparent that inflammatory reactions due to either underlying infection or autoimmune disorders are readily detected by this technique.PET Imaging of Infection and InflammationAbass Alavi, Hongming Zhuang10.1016/j.cpet.2012.02.001PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-Xxixihttp://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000181/abstract?rss=yesA number of diagnostic tests is often necessary to differentiate aseptic loosening from periprosthetic infection in most clinical settings. The accuracy of [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose examined with positron emission tomography imaging (FDG PET) in diagnosing periprosthetic infection has been determined by a number of investigations. In general, Images are considered positive for infection if they demonstrate increased FDG activity at the bone-prosthesis interface of the prostheses. Based on the large number of reports in the literature the sensitivity and specificity for FDG PET are about 85–90%. The overall accuracy of this non-invasive imaging modality is superior to the other existing imaging techniques. Therefore, FDG PET appears a very promising and accurate diagnosing tool for distinguishing septic from aseptic painful hip prostheses.Promising Roles of PET in Management of Arthroplasty-Associated InfectionBabak Saboury, Pouya Ziai, Molly Parsons, Hongming Zhuang, Sandip Basu, Abass Alavi10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.002PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-X139150http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000193/abstract?rss=yesThis article reviews the published data on the utilization of [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/CT imaging in patients with complicated diabetic foot. Three areas have been identified where FDG-PET/CT can have an important role in the clinical decision making process of this disease and could be helpful to the podiatricians if found accurate: (a) Diagnosis of deep soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis (OM), (b) differentiating Charcot arthropathy from OM and (c) evaluating the ischemia/atherogenesis component in a particular case. The main focus of the research initiatives involving PET in the setting of diabetic foot syndrome has been its possible role in the reliable diagnosis or exclusion of OM. The literature on the efficacy of FDG PET in reliably diagnosing or excluding OM in diabetic foot is divided with two groups of results; four studies emphasizing the potential usefulness and two depicting relatively low sensitivity of this modality. The combined PET/CT fusion approach appears better than FDG PET imaging alone owing to superior anatomical localization and thereby better differentiation of soft tissue infection and bone. With the establishment of clinically functioning PET/MRI units, it is essential to conduct further research studies designed to investigate the ability of this modality as the most optimal one-stop shop diagnostic imaging technique for the management of patients with diabetic foot. A relatively less explored area is the role of FDG PET in assessing atherosclerosis in the large vessels of the lower limb that could help in studying the ischemia component and its contribution in the development of diabetic foot. Further research is required in this direction.FDG PET and PET/CT Imaging in Complicated Diabetic FootSandip Basu, Hongming Zhuang, Abass Alavi10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.003PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-X151160http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000272/abstract?rss=yesThis article discusses the role of [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET and PET/computed tomography in diagnosis and therapeutic response assessment for the management of patients with osteomyelitis, to increase awareness of imaging pitfalls and to improve understanding of specific technical and diagnostic challenges in patients with posttraumatic chronic osteomyelitis, spinal infections, prosthetic joint infections, and diabetic foot infections. This article focuses on the usefulness of modern imaging modalities in the setting of suspected infection or inflammation and on the role of FDG-PET in the management of patients with suspected or confirmed infection in the bones.FDG PET Assessment of Osteomyelitis: A ReviewPhyllis Dioguardi, Santosh R. Gaddam, Hongming Zhuang, Drew A. Torigian, Abass Alavi10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.011PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-X161179http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000223/abstract?rss=yesDespite advances in medicine in the past decades, fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains a challenging and common clinical problem. There are many different etiologies for FUO. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a powerful technique that has been proven to be useful in elucidating processes that may present as FUO. This article reviews the utility of PET/CT imaging in the evaluation of FUO, with attention to the pediatric population.Fever of Unknown Origin: The Roles of FDG PET or PET/CTJigang Yang, Hongming Zhuang, Sabah Servaes10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.006PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-02-13PET Clinics2012-02-1372S1556-8598(11)X0007-X181189http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000211/abstract?rss=yesSarcoidosis as a distinct disease entity was diagnosed more than 100 years ago. The signs and symptoms of the disease are nonspecific, posing a challenge for early and accurate diagnosis. IgG4 disease or syndrome has various clinical manifestations, such as sclerosing pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, prostatitis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, interstitial pneumonia, and enlargement of salivary glands. This article discusses the role of the different diagnostic imaging modalities in sarcoidosis and IgG4 disease, including radiographs, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and conventional nuclear medicine, with a special emphasis on positron emission tomography as a superior modality for assessing these inflammatory diseases.PET/CT in Patients with Sarcoidosis or IgG4 DiseaseJian Q. Yu, Mohan Doss, Ion Codreanu, Hongming Zhuang10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.005PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-02-13PET Clinics2012-02-1372S1556-8598(11)X0007-X191210http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000247/abstract?rss=yes[18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/computed tomography has become an established modality. High-resolution PET images are superior to those provided by most single-photon–emitting tracers. Apart from its value for diagnosing and restaging malignancies, PET is increasingly used to detect associated infectious and inflammatory conditions in oncology patients. Infectious and inflammatory conditions commonly have a lower degree of FDG uptake compared with malignant lesions. In recent years the usefulness of FDG PET in differentiating coexisting infections in patients with malignancy has received only limited attention in the literature and requires further development.Utilization of FDG PET/CT in the Management of Inflammation and Infection in Patients with MalignanciesBing Xu, Yuejian Liu, Ion Codreanu10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.008PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-02-20PET Clinics2012-02-2072S1556-8598(11)X0007-X211218http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000259/abstract?rss=yesInflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic immune mediated inflammatory diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Two distinct entities are recognized: Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both entities are chronic relapsing diseases. Therapeutic algorithms have been deeply changed in recent years, thanks to the advent of biologic drugs. Nevertheless, several major questions persist regarding the clinical management of these diseases. FDG PET/CT is highly sensitive for identifying severe to moderate inflammatory involvement of the digestive tract. Further studies should clarify the most appropriate scanning method and the exact place of FDG PET, along with MRI.The Utility of FDG PET/CT in Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseRoland Hustinx10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.009PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-02-16PET Clinics2012-02-1672S1556-8598(11)X0007-X219225http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000235/abstract?rss=yesDiagnosis of vasculitis is challenging given the nonspecific manifestations of the diseases. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been increasingly used for vasculitis in clinic and has been shown to have a potential role in diagnosing large-vessel vasculitis such as giant cell vasculitis and Takayasu vasculitis, in monitoring treatment response, and in predicting disease progression. However, the exact clinical role of FDG PET for vasculitis has not been determined. Diagnosis of vasculitis should not be made solely based on PET. It is also worth noting that FDG PET has limited role in small-size vasculitis, although case reports have shown some success.FDG PET Imaging of Large-Vessel VasculitisQi Cao, Wengan Chen10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.007PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-X227232http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS155685981200020X/abstract?rss=yesPositron emission tomography (PET) is a well-known imaging modality in assessing the treatment response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy in various malignancies. A systematic review of the literature reveals a few publications reporting evaluation of the treatment response in benign conditions using PET/computed tomography. PET holds a promising future role in the follow-up of inflammatory or infectious diseases. In this article, [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET as a tool in the evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of infectious and inflammatory diseases is discussed.Assessment of Therapy Response by FDG PET in Infection and InflammationRakesh Kumar, Sellam Karunanithi, Hongming Zhuang, Abass Alavi10.1016/j.cpet.2012.01.004PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-X233243http://www.pet.theclinics.com/article/PIIS1556859812000466/abstract?rss=yesIndex10.1016/S1556-8598(12)00046-6PET Clinics 7, 2 (2012)2012-04-01PET Clinics2012-04-0172S1556-8598(11)X0007-X245247