Potential Use of Integrated Multimodality Imaging ${}^{18}F$-FDG PET-CT in the Evaluation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Brief Report

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) due to an inappropriate, aberrant response of the mucosal immune system that can cause chronic irritation and malignant transformation. This prospective study included 8 patients who presented at the Gastroenterology Clinic of Serdang Hospital in Malaysia with a prolonged history of altered bowel habits. Blood tests, endoscopy, tissue biopsy, and whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) using fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 (${}^{18}F$-FDG) as biomarker for tumor imaging were performed. There was a correlation between a high maximum standardized uptake value with contrast-enhanced CT changes, endoscopic, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate findings and clinical presentation. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of ${}^{18}F$-FDG PET-CT were 100%. ${}^{18}F$-FDG PET-CT is a promising, noninvasive method that complements endoscopy in the investigation of IBD and may perhaps play a role as a gatekeeper.