PET/CT imaging in polymyalgia rheumatica: praepubic 18F-FDG uptake correlates with pectineus and adductor longus muscles enthesitis and with tenosynovitis

Background

The role of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) is increasing in the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), one of the most common inflammatory rheumatic diseases. In addition to other locations, increased ¹⁸F-FDG accumulation has been detected in the praepubic region in some patients. However, a deeper description and pathophysiological explanation of this increased praepubic accumulation has been lacking. The aim of the presented study is to confirm a decrease in praepubic ¹⁸F-FDG accumulation in response to therapy and to describe potential correlations to other ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan characteristics during the course of disease. As a secondary objective, we describe the pathological aspects of the observed praepubic ¹⁸F-FDG uptake.

Patients and methods

A retrospective review of patients with newly suspected PMR undergoing baseline and follow up ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT between February 2010 and March 2016 is given. Those with a visually detected presence of praepubic ¹⁸F-FDG accumulation were further analysed. The uptake was assessed visually and also semi-quantitatively in the defined region of interest by calculation of target-to-liver ratios. Other regions typical for PMR were systematically described as well (shoulders, hips, sternoclavicular joints, ischiogluteal bursae, spinous interspaces).

Results

Twenty-three out of 89 screened patients (26%) presented with initial praepubic ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT positivity, 15 of whom also underwent follow up ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT examination. Five out of 15 patients presented with increased ¹⁸F-FDG accumulation in large arteries as a sign of giant cell arteritis. During follow up examination, decrease in ¹⁸F-FDG accumulation caused by therapeutic intervention was observed in all evaluated locations in all analysed patients and no new positivity was indicated, including periarticular, extraarticular tissues or target large vessels. Praepubical accumulation of ¹⁸F-FDG was diminished in all patients (15/15, 100%) after treatment with steroids.

Conclusions

Increased praepubic ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in patients with PMR is relatively common and this region should be systematically evaluated during differential diagnosis of rheumatic and malignant disease. Praepubic inflammation is probably related to enthesitis and tenosynovitis at the origin of pectineus and adductor longus muscles ventrally from the pubis.