September 5, 2023

Incidental Detection of Giant Cell Arteritis in PET/CT Scans for Renal Carcinoma

A case study involving a 71-year-old male undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT scans for renal carcinoma staging revealed incidental findings of giant cell arteritis. The patient was administered 370 MBq of 18F-FDG, and the scan spanned from the base of the skull to the mid-thighs. Increased tracer uptake was observed throughout the aorta, corroborating the patient’s known diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. The findings suggest that PET/CT scans can be instrumental in identifying co-morbidities, warranting a more comprehensive interpretation of imaging results.

Citation: Heston, Thomas F.,  & Szabo, Z. (2009). Giant cell arteritis on 18F‐FDG PET/CT. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging, 29(5), 382–384. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-097X.2009.00881.x