18F-FDG PET/CT in Graft Versus Host Disease–Associated Polymyositis

Abstract

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is the most frequent and serious complication of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Polymyositis is a rare neuromuscular manifestation of GVHD, which often responds well to corticosteroid and immunosuppression therapy. We present a case of a 38-year-old man with a known case of mixed-phenotype acute leukemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplant presenting with GVHD-associated polymyositis. 18F-FDG PET/CT done in this case not only helped in the detection of the muscle involvement but also helped in obtaining precise muscle sample for histopathological diagnosis using PET-guided biopsy.

Pathological features of inflammatory myopathy as a manifestation of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

“…Recently, studies on disease activity in IM using fluorodeoxyglucose‐position emission tomography/CT have revealed that FDG uptake into muscle elevates in GVHD‐related IM. This finding reflects increased local muscle metabolism, including inflammatory cell infiltration 8,9 . Nonetheless, the condition's characteristic pathology remains unknown.…”

“…This finding reflects increased local muscle metabolism, including inflammatory cell infiltration. 8,9 Nonetheless, the condition's characteristic pathology remains unknown.…”

Rare case of docetaxel-induced myositis detected on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in a patient with carcinoma breast

“…FDG PET-CT has already been used for different inflammatory myopathies which showed increased tracer uptake in the inflamed muscles. [ 10 11 12 13 14 15 ] Hence, it is important for nuclear medicine physicians to be familiar with FDG PET-CT findings attributable to chemotherapy induced myositis so that an appropriate differential diagnosis can be established. Our case demonstrates a rare side effect of docetaxel on 18 F FDG PET/CT.…”