EANM Consensus Document on the Use of [F]FDG PET/CT in Fever and Inflammation of Unknown Origin

Purpose: Patients with fever and inflammation of unknown origin (FUO/IUO) are clinically challenging due to variable clinical presentations with nonspecific symptoms and many differential diagnoses. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) is increasingly used in FUO and IUO, but the optimal diagnostic strategy remains controversial. This consensus document aims to assist clinicians and nuclear medicine specialists in the appropriate use of [F]FDG-PET/CT in FUO and IUO based on current evidence.

Methods: A working group created by the EANM infection and inflammation committee performed a systematic literature search based on PICOs with "patients with FUO/IUO" as population, "[F]FDG-PET/CT" as intervention, and several outcomes including pre-scan characteristics, scan protocol, diagnostic yield, impact on management, prognosis, and cost-effectiveness.

Results: We included 68 articles published from 2001 to 2023: 9 systematic reviews, 49 original papers on general adult populations, and 10 original papers on specific populations. All papers were analysed and included in the evidence-based recommendations.

Conclusion: FUO and IUO remains a clinical challenge and [F]FDG PET/CT has a definite role in the diagnostic pathway with an overall diagnostic yield or helpfulness in 50-60% of patients. A positive scan is often contributory by directly guiding treatment or subsequent diagnostic procedure. However, a negative scan may be equally important by excluding focal disease and predicting a favorable prognosis. Similar results are obtained in specific populations such as ICU-patients, children and HIV-patients.