Imaging the inflammatory activity of sarcoidosis

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 743 - 751
• Main Authors: KEIJSERS, Ruth G. M, VAN DEN HEUVEL, Daniel A. F, GRUTTERS, Jan C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Maney 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 - pharmacology; Gallium Radioisotopes - pharmacology; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Inflammation - diagnosis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiography, Thoracic; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals - pharmacology; Receptors, Somatostatin - metabolism; Sarcoidosis - diagnosis; Sarcoidosis - diagnostic imaging; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Radionuclide study; 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose; High resolution; Radiodiagnosis; Sarcoidosis; high-resolution computed tomography; Activity; Inflammation; Systemic disease; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; sarcoidosis activity; F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Positron emission tomography; Pneumology; Emission tomography
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00088612

Accurate assessment of pulmonary and extrapulmonary organ involvement in sarcoidosis is one of the great challenges for clinicians. This assessment includes the evaluation of symptoms and of sarcoidosis activity in a specific organ and its functional consequences. In this review, radiological and nuclear techniques to image the inflammatory activity of sarcoidosis are described, in particular (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The current use of this technique in clinical practice is explained, particularly in patients with persistent symptoms, stage IV disease and cardiac sarcoidosis.