Work

[18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET/MRI for nononcological musculoskeletal indications: reference uptake values in the asymptomatic lumbar spine and example comparison to a low back pain patient

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess normal [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG) uptake values in lumbar spine structures on PET/MRI in patients without low back pain. METHODS: Asymptomatic adults receiving whole-body FDG PET/MRI for nononcological indications were prospectively included. Spinal structures of interest were manually annotated at each lumbar level. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max ) and mean SUV (SUV mean ) values were extracted from ordered subset expectation maximization, block sequential regularized expectation maximization (BSREM) β450, and BSREM β300 images. The distributions of SUV max and SUV mean values were evaluated across spinal levels and structures. We also evaluated normalization of SUV metrics with the liver and subcutaneous fat uptake values, and correlations between SUV metrics and BMI, age, and blood glucose level. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included for analysis. Average SUV max on OSEM reconstructions was 2.99 (SD: 0.69) for the vertebral body and 1.95 (SD: 0.54) for the intervertebral disc. In the nervous system, SUV max for articular, peri-articular, and ligamentous structures was lower, ranging between 1.26 and 1.62. Uptake values were significantly lower on BSREM β450 and higher on BSREM β300. There was a positive correlation between uptake values and BMI, but no correlation was found with age or blood glucose level. CONCLUSION: Normal uptake values in the lumbar spine on [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI in asymptomatic adults were assessed. The uptake values reported in this study could serve as a reference for the identification of abnormalities in patients with chronic low back pain, but the applied PET reconstruction method and patient BMI should be taken into account.

Source: Nuclear Medicine Communications

DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000002164

Authors: Jacob M. Mostert, Edwin H.G. Oei, Denise W.J. van Beekveld, Sandip Biswal, Rianne A. van der Heijden

Institutions: Erasmus MC, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad