[18F]-FDG PET/CT in oncologic patients with unsuspected asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 2021-03, Vol.48 (3), p.786-793
• Main Authors: Cabrera Villegas, Antonio, Romero Robles, Leonardo G., Boulvard Chollet, Xavier L. E., Albornoz Almada, M. Clara, Mangas Losada, María, Garrastachu, Puy, Cañete Sánchez, Francisco M., Ramírez Lasanta, Rafael, Delgado Bolton, Roberto C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Asymptomatic; Asymptomatic infection; Asymptomatic Infections; Bronchopulmonary infection; Cardiology; Computed tomography; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Diagnosis; Female; Fluorine isotopes; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 - administration & dosage; Humans; Imaging; Infection and inflammation; Infections; Lungs; Male; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Original; Original Article; Orthopedics; Pandemics; Polymerase chain reaction; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography - methods; Radiology; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spain - epidemiology; Viral diseases
• ISSN: 1619-7070; 1619-7089
• DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-04979-5

Purpose Spain has been one of the most affected countries by the COVID-19 pandemic, being among the countries with worse numbers, including the death rate. However, most patients are asymptomatic, although they are very contagious. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence in oncological patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 that are asymptomatic for COVID-19 and at home and that undergo PET/CT for oncologic indications, nonrelated to COVID-19, finding in the PET/CT lung alterations that are suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods During the period of maximum incidence of the global pandemic in one of the most affected regions of Spain, there were 145 patients that met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the study. Imaging findings previously described such as ground-glass opacities with low [ 18 F]-FDG uptake were considered images suspicious for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with these findings were referred to RT-PCR testing and close follow-up to confirm the presence or absence of COVID-19. Results Suspicious lung imaging findings were present in 7 of 145 patients (4.8%). Five of these 7 patients were confirmed as presenting SARS-CoV-2 infection, this is, COVID-19. In the remaining two, it was not possible to confirm the presence of COVID-19 with RT-PCR, although in one of them, PET/CT allowed an early diagnosis of a lung infection related to a bacterial pneumonic infection that was promptly and adequately treated with antibiotics. Conclusion These results confirm that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is higher than suspected and that there are asymptomatic patients that are attending imaging departments to be explored for their baseline oncologic processes. In these patients, PET/CT allows an early diagnosis of COVID-19.