PET/CT monitors Crohn's disease, guides management

A Belgian study suggests that FDG-PET/CT should supplement endoscopy for assessing the clinical status of Crohn's disease. Hybrid imaging accurately tracks the frequency and intensity of the condition and may help physicians adjust therapy.

Dr. Roland Hustinx, head of nuclear medicine at the University Hospital of Liege, and colleagues prospectively assessed 22 Crohn's disease patients. FDG-PET/CT detected 35 of 48 segments confirmed by endoscopy for a sensitivity rate of 72.9%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the FDG segment standard uptake value was significantly associated with the lesions (p = 0.0002).

"If the PET/CT is positive, the doctor should confirm the results using endoscopy. If the PET/CT is negative, there would be no need for the endoscopy, given the high negative predictive value of the technique," Hustinx said.

He presented the study at the 2007 SNM meeting.