Elsevier

Tuberculosis

Volume 87, Issue 5, September 2007, Pages 459-463
Tuberculosis

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

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2007.05.013Get rights and content

Summary

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.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank David Leslie for laboratory support and Rodney J. Hicks and Robin Cassumbhoy for assistance with images.

Funding: None

Competing interests: None declared

Ethical approval: Not required

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