Diagnosis of abdominal aortic prosthesis infection with FDG-PET/CT

Abstract

A 79-year-old man was referred with recurrent periods of fever and chills. Six years earlier an aortic bifurcation graft had been implanted. Blood examination showed elevated infection parameters. A regular computed tomographic (CT) scan in the previous hospital showed no signs of graft infection. When blood cultures revealed multiple enteric bacteria, a 2-deoxy-2-[F18]fluoro- d-glucose-positron emission tomographic/CT (FDG- PET/CT) scan was performed that demonstrated ring-shaped pathological uptake at the proximal anastomosis. The patient was operated on and an infected graft was found, with a 1-cm defect in the distal part of the duodenum. Bacterial cultures of the explanted graft were positive. The patient recovered well from surgery and is on a regimen of prolonged antibiotic and antimycotic treatment.