18 F-FDG Brain PET/MRI in Granulomatous Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Clin Nucl Med. 2024 Sep 1;49(9):886-889. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000005334. Epub 2024 Jun 8.

Abstract

An 18-year-old man presented with encephalopathy, headache, tremor, and left hemiparesis. 18 F-FDG brain PET/MRI revealed pronounced hypometabolism in the right cerebral hemisphere corresponding to extensive T2/FLAIR signal abnormality, with accompanying miliary enhancement and microhemorrhages in this region. The differential diagnosis favored an autoimmune or inflammatory origin, rather than an infectious or neoplastic etiology. Brain biopsy demonstrated nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation affecting the vessel walls, without evidence of glial neoplasm, lymphoma, or infection. Treatment with corticosteroids was subsequently initiated, with favorable clinical response.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain* / pathology
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Granuloma / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Supplementary concepts

  • Primary angiitis of the central nervous system