Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in patients with cancer, the role of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for diagnosis and monitoring treatment response

Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2007 Sep;87(5):459-63. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2007.05.013. Epub 2007 Jul 12.

Abstract

Active tuberculosis (TB) infection including asymptomatic and extrapulmonary disease may be detected with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). This report highlights the promising role of FDG-PET/CT for evaluation of TB in high-risk, immunocompromised patients with cancer. PET/CT performed for cancer evaluation may detect asymptomatic infection and guide definitive diagnosis. It may also be a useful tool in the assessment of latent TB, to exclude active disease prior to treatment. PET/CT has potential for monitoring response to anti-tuberculosis treatment. Metabolic response may indicate clinical response and guide duration of anti-microbial therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy
  • Mediastinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / diagnostic imaging*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18