18F-FDG PET/CT pattern of Erdheim-Chester disease – a group of Czech patients

Abstract

Introduction: Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare unit of histiocytic diseases. The goal of our work was to assess 18F-FDG PET/CT presentation of this disease in patients from the Czech Republic. Methods: We analyzed overall 44 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations in 6 patients with this disease. We assessed 18F-FDG accumulation in staging examinations of these 6 patients at usual localizations, i.e. bones, brain, orbit, paranasal sinuses, periaortal space, heart, lungs, perirenal space and skin. Results: Bone 18F-FDG accumulation was detected in all patients; in 5 mostly in lower extremities. Maxillar sinuses were involved in 5/6 patients. Vascular and perirenal involvement was detected in 4/6 patients. Two patients had involved skin and hypophysis, one patient also orbits and heart. Lung involvement was not detected in any patient. Conclusions: 18F-FDG avid involvement of skeleton was the main and regular characteristic of PET/CT presentation of Erdheim-Chester disease. Also other localizations of 18F-FDG avid involvement (cardiovascular, CNS, paranasal sinuses, orbitis, skin, perirenal space) confirm known observations in ECD.