Infection de prothèse vasculaire : TEP-FDG vs scintigraphie aux leucocytes marqués (planaires et TEMP/TDM)

Vascular prosthesis infection is an uncommon but life-threatening complication. Its diagnosis is difficult to establish especially due to the low specificity of computed tomography (CT). The aim of this preliminary study was to compare the diagnostic value of positron emission tomography with¹⁸FDG (¹⁸FDG-PET) and ^99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes scintigraphy in this indication. ¹⁸FDG-PET/CT and ^99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes scintigraphy (planar at 6th and 24th hours after injection + SPECT/CT at the 6th hour) were prospectively performed in 11 patients (total of 22 vascular prosthesis with 14 clinical suspicions of infection). Both scans were retrospectively and blindly assessed by two independent nuclear medicine physicians. Interpretation was based on visual analysis. The gold standard was bacteriology findings or clinical follow-up greater than 6 months. Eight prostheses were considered as infected. PET found eight true-positive and one false-positive. Scintigraphy found eight true-positive and no false-positive. A focal or heterogeneous FDG-uptake higher or equal than hepatic uptake was considered as positive in PET. A focal prosthetic activity, stable or increased at the 24th hour was considered as positive in labeled leukocyte scintigraphy. SPECT/CT gave accurate anatomic localization and differentiated clearly infections of soft tissues from those of prostheses. ¹⁸FDG-PET could be performed in first-line in suspicion of vascular prosthesis infection. In litigious cases, a^99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes scintigraphy in association with SPECT/CT could bring additional arguments for infection diagnosis.