Increased splenic fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in a patient with granulomatous angitis

Abstract

Although utility of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been rehearsed in large vessel vasculitides, it is not known if small vessel vasculitides are also associated with increased FDG uptake. Hereby described is a 64-year-old female patient with prolonged fever and splenomegaly, which was depicted as a hot area in FDG-PET. Splenectomy disclosed microaneurysms, giant cell granuloma, perivascular leukocytic infiltration with fibrinoid necrosis, consistent with granulomatous angitis. Serum myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was positive. The present case illustrates that vasculitides affecting small vessels present increased FDG uptake as do those affecting large vessels. © 2007 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.