Abnormal 18F-FDG and 82Rb PET Findings in Chagas Heart Disease

Clin Nucl Med. 2017 May;42(5):e265-e268. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001622.

Abstract

Uptake of the radiopharmaceutical F-FDG visualized by PET imaging can reflect abnormal myocardial inflammation. When utilized in conjunction with other imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, PET F-FDG imaging can help distinguish between active cardiac sarcoidosis and other etiologies of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We present a case of a 46-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia who underwent an echocardiogram suggestive of cardiac Chagas disease. A subsequent F-FDG PET demonstrated abnormal hypermetabolism. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive serologic examination results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / metabolism
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism*
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18