OP0033 SPECT- and PET/CT imaging in newly onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. (15th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Simonsen, J; Hvidsten, S; Høilund-Carlsen, PF; Thøgersen, KF; Gerke, O; Jacobsen, S; Diederichsen, LP
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 76(2017)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2017-06-15
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-eular.6000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) is challenging and so far no pathognomonic signs exist by imaging. Few radionuclide imaging techniques have been tested for this purpose, mainly 99m Tc-pyrophosphate planar imaging and 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18F- FDG-PET/CT). However, 99m Tc-PYP uptake has been assessed visually and at best graded semi-quantitatively. Objectives: We aimed for quantitative 99m Tc-pyrophosphate single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (99m Tc-PYP-SPECT/CT) as well as 18F -FDG-PET/CT imaging in a group of newly onset IIM patients. Methods: Thirteen patients (mean age 62 years) with newly diagnosed, untreated IIM underwent 99m Tc-PYP SPECT/CT of the thorax, pelvis, and thighs. Seven of the patients also had a whole-body 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan. Forty-nine healthy controls (mean age 59 years) underwent 99m Tc-PYP SPECT/CT and 26 healthy controls (mean age 57 years) had a 18 F-FDG PET/CT scan done. Volumes of interest (VOIs) covering the right biceps, triceps, and quadriceps muscles were drawn manually on each series. Registered 99m Tc-PYP counts, respectively standardized uptake values (SUVs) of 18 F-FDG were obtained from all VOIs. Registered counts were decay- and attenuation-corrected and adjusted for body weight and administered dose of 99m Tc-PYP, yielding a parameter similar to the SUV [g mL -1 ]. Results: IIM patients had visible tracer uptake in the skeletal muscles of the extremities. The muscular 99m Tc-PYP uptake was significantly higher in upper limbs of patients than the uptake in the same muscle groups in healthy controls (uptake[biceps] 0.46 vs. 0.33 g mL -1, p=0.01; uptake[triceps] 0.40 vs. 0.27 g mL -1, p=0.003). The 99m Tc-PYP uptake tended to be higher in the lower limbs of patients than in the lower limbs of controls (uptake[quadriceps] 0.59 vs. 0.48 g mL -1, p=0.06). The muscular FDG uptake was significantly higher in patients than in controls in both upper limbs (SUVmean [biceps] 1.35 vs. 0.72 g mL -1, p=0.006; SUVmean [triceps] 0.91 vs. 0.44 g mL -1, p=0.0008) and lower limbs (SUVmean [quadriceps] 0.84 vs. 0.62 g mL -1, p=0.0001). The muscular FDG uptake values were consequently higher than the 99m Tc-PYP uptake values, although not by a constant factor. Conclusions: Quantitative 99m Tc-PYP SPECT/CT as well as 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging revealed muscular inflammation in patients with newly onset, untreated IIM. Patients had higher tracer uptake in skeletal muscles groups than healthy controls. Quantification of muscular tracer uptake with the potential to objectively distinguish physiology from pathophysiology could be a valuable tool in the challenging diagnosis of IIMs. Disclosure of Interest: None declared