Clinical evaluation of dynamic [¹⁸F]FDG PET imaging to distinguish infection from inflammation in fracture-related infections.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Standard [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT is widely used to detect infections, but is limited in differentiating bacterial infection from inflammation due to overlapping uptake patterns. This distinction is particularly challenging in fracture-related infection (FRI), due to multiple factors, including recent surgery, soft tissue injury, fracture healing, and surgical implants. Dynamic [¹⁸F]FDG imaging over time may overcome this limitation by capturing a rapid, sustained uptake seen in infections, driven by ongoing immune and microbial activity, as opposed to the potentially slower uptake in inflammation. This study investigates the potential of dynamic [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT using time-activity curves (TACs) to distinguish infection from inflammation in patien

SUBMITTER: van Rijsewijk ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12860805 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature