J Rheum Dis.  2017 Feb;24(1):55-59. 10.4078/jrd.2017.24.1.55.

Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Diagnosis and Assessment of Takayasu Arteritis and Ulcerative Colitis

• Choi YW
• Jung S
• Jung TY
• Kim YH
• Han DS
• Bang SY

• KMID: 2371679
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2017.24.1.55

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis (TA) and ulcerative colitis (UC), both immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, rarely occur together. This report describes TA in a 29-year old female patient who was being treated for UC for three years. As she had left-side neck pain and headache, she was diagnosed with TA and her response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor was assessed by fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹â¸F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). Positive responses to the TNF inhibitor were seen by PET/CT for the TA and by endoscopy for the UC. We conclude that TNF inhibitors are effective treatments for both TA and UC. We found that PET/CT is a useful for diagnosing and assessing TA.

Keyword

Takayasu arteritis; Ulcerative colitis; Positron emission tomography

MeSH Terms

Colitis, Ulcerative*
Diagnosis*
Electrons*
Endoscopy
Female
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
Headache
Humans
Neck Pain
Positron-Emission Tomography
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Takayasu Arteritis*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Ulcer*
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. (A) Neck computed tomography images showing bilateral common carotid arteries, subclavian arteries, and aortic arch (arrows) surrounded by soft tissue density with enhancement, with left side of both common carotid arteries and subclavian arteries being more severe than the other side. (B) Angiographic images representing that the vertebral artery as well as the bilateral common carotid arteries and subclavian arteries were abnormally narrow as well (arrows).

• 

  Figure 2. (A) Sigmoidoscopy which is done before the administration of the infliximab, representing a loss of vessel wall, redness of mucosa and spontaneous bleeding (black arrows). (B) Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) before the administration of the infliximab. There is increase of uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose at both common carotid arteries, subclavian arteries and thoracic and abdominal aorta (white arrow). (C) Sigmoidoscopy after 3 months of the treatment, although the redness of mucosa was still left, the spontaneous bleeding disappeared. (D) PET/CT after 3 months of the treatment. The uptake of both common carotid arteries, subclavian artery and aorta baseline have been decreased (arrow).

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