J Rheum Dis.  2013 Apr;20(2):113-117. 10.4078/jrd.2013.20.2.113.

Typical 18-FDG-PET/CT Findings of Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Case Report

• Park JS
• Pyo JY
• Park HJ
• Lee HS
• Kang Y
• Kang MI
• Song J
• Park YB
• Lee SK
• Lee SW

• KMID: 2223036
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2013.20.2.113

Abstract

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic condition characterized by generalized pain and morning stiffness in the shoulders, hip girdle, and neck. Since the pathogenesis of PMR is still uncertain, the diagnosis of PMR depends on clinical features. There have been several studies regarding radiological tools for the diagnosis of PMR. Recent studies using 18-FDG-PET showed bursitis, synovitis, uptake in the spinous process and asymptomatic large-vessel vasculitis in PMR patients. However, there was no report on the efficacy of 18-FDG-PET for diagnosis of PMR in Korea. Here, we are first reporting a case of a Korean patient with PMR, who had radiological findings including bursitis, synovitis, uptake in the spinous process and asymptomatic large-vessel vasculitis on 18-FDG-PET/CT.

Keyword

Polymyalgia rheumatica; 18-FDG; FDG-PET; Positron emission tomography and computed tomography; Vasculitis

MeSH Terms

Bursitis
Hip
Humans
Korea
Neck
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Shoulder
Synovitis
Vasculitis

Figure

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  Figure 1. There are no abnormal findings on shoulder (A) and pelvis x-ray (B).

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  Figure 2. Multifocal increased FDG uptakes noted at the wall of both subclavian arteries and bursae around both shoulder and hip joints (A). Also focal increased FDG uptakes noted at the interspinous ligaments of lumbar spine (B).

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  Figure 3. There are increased FDG uptakes at the interspinous ligaments of cervical spine (A), bursae around both shoulders, both subclavian arteries (B), both brachial arteries and thoracic aorta (C). Also noted increased FDG uptakes at bursae around both greater trochanters, ischial tuberosities and symphysis pubis (D).

Reference

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