Nuclear medicine in SARS-CoV-2 pandemia: ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT to visualize COVID-19

Abstract

The current outbreak of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has reached multiple countries worldwide. While the number of newly diagnosed cases and fatalities is rising quickly, far-reaching measures were enacted to prevent further spread. Diagnosis relies on clinical presentation, exposure history, PCR using specimens from the respiratory tract together with computed tomography (CT) imaging. One of the hallmarks of a critical course of COVID-19 is the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). As management of COVID-19 can be considered a multi-disciplinary approach involving various medical specialties, we here review the first ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT scans of COVID-19 to discuss how Nuclear Medicine could contribute to management of this disease.

Zusammenfassung

Der Ausbruch des Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 hat inzwischen viele Länder weltweit erreicht. Trotz weitreichender Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung der Ausbreitung steigen die Fallzahlen kontinuierlich weiter. Die Diagnose der durch SARS-CoV-2 hervorgerufenen COVID-19 Erkrankung erfolgt mittels Polymerasekettenreaktion aus Proben des Respirationstrakts und computertomographischer Bildgebung der Lunge. Die Erkrankung kann asymptomatisch oder mild verlaufen und sich mit Fieber oder trockenem Husten manifestieren. Eine gefürchtete schwere Verlaufsform von COVID-19 ist die Entwicklung eines ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). Da insbesondere schwere Krankheitsverläufe oftmals eine multidisziplinäre Vorgehensweise erfordern, besprechen wir hier anhand einiger ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT Fallbeispiele, welche Rolle die Nuklearmedizin bei COVID-19 einnehmen könnte.

Key words

SARS-CoV-2 - COVID-19 - ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT - nuclear medicine

Schlüsselwörter

SARS-CoV-2 - COVID-19 - ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT - Nuklearmedizin

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 03. April 2020

Angenommen: 03. April 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
07. April 2020

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