The Role of 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in Management of Nocardiosis: A Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature

Ili Margalit*, Anat Yahav, Yaara Ben Ari, Haim Ben-Zvi, Avivit Shoham, Elad Goldberg, Michal Weiler-Sagie, Noam Tau, Khitam Muhsen, Jihad Bishara, Mical Paul, Hanna Bernstine, Dafna Yahav

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is a well-established tool for managing metastatic infections. Nocardiosis, a primarily pulmonary infection, disseminates at high rates. Routine imaging includes chest CT and brain imaging. We examined the use of FDG-PET/CT in nocardiosis and assessed its contribution to diagnosis and management. Methods: A retrospective study in two tertiary medical centers during 2011–2020. Individuals with nocardiosis for whom FDG-PET/CT was implemented for any reason were included and their medical records were reviewed. A board-certified nuclear medicine physician independently reviewed all scans. Additionally, a systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, to extract data from publications reporting FDG-PET/CT use for the management of nocardiosis. Results: FDG-PET/CT contributed to the management of all seven patients who met inclusion criteria. It assisted in ruling out an underlying malignancy (29%, 2/7); establishing a wide infection extent (57%, 4/7); and affecting decisions regarding treatment (57%, 4/7), including drug regimen, oral step-down, and duration of therapy. We identified 20 published case reports on this topic. In 80% (16/20), FDG-PET/CT contributed to the management of nocardiosis similar to our study. In addition, in most of the literature cases, FDG-PET/CT guided the diagnostic biopsy. Conclusion: FDG-PET/CT is valuable in the diagnosis and management of individuals with nocardiosis. The contribution of incorporating FDG-PET/CT to the management of individuals with nocardiosis and its role in monitoring treatment response and shortening treatment duration should be evaluated in prospective studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2227-2246
Number of pages20
JournalInfectious Diseases and Therapy
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • Imaging
  • Nocardia infections
  • Opportunistic infections

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