PET imaging of COVID-19: the target and the number

Excerpt

In the context of COVID-19 worldwide outbreak, first reports are being published on the potential value of PET imaging. A total of 5 highly suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases explored with ¹⁸F-FDG PET have been so far described by Qin et al. [1] and Zou and Zhu [2], at the diagnostic step, showing lung hypermetabolic pulmonary ground glass opacities with low-dose CT correspondence, frequently associated to lymph nodes hypermetabolism. More broadly, Deng et al. [3] also argue for the possible ¹⁸F-FDG PET utility, as a sensitive tool to detect and monitor inflammatory diseases, such as viral pneumonia, monitor disease progression, and treatment outcomes, according to the major goals of precision medicine in which PET imaging is well-known to be crucially involved [4]. On the opposite, Joob and Wiwanitkit have recalled that ¹⁸F-FDG PET is still not recommended in infectious pneumonia, and especially warned of the risk of disease spreading in PET departments [5]. …