PET-CT findings in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica without symptoms of cranial ischaemia.

INTRODUCTION: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder that affects the elderly. At present, evidence is limited regarding the usefulness of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in the diagnosis of PMR. This study aimed to compare patient characteristics and symptoms with PET-CT findings in a Danish population of PMR patients without clinical symptoms of giant cell arteritis.

METHODS: The medical records of 50 Danish PET-CT-scanned patients with PMR were reviewed. Symptoms, characteristics and PET-CT findings were registered from the medical records.

RESULTS: Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake was seen at the shoulders and/or hips of about 80%, and at the spinous processes of about 50% of the patients. Furthermore, 14% of the patients showed no FDG uptake at any of the studied locations. A sensitivity of 79% for PMR was found if there was FDG uptake at any two of the following three locations: the shoulder, the hip and the spinous processes. Vascular FDG uptake was seen in 7% of the patients. No significant correlations between any symptoms and any PET-CT findings were found. C-reactive protein level was significantly lower in patients receiving glucocorticoids, and completely normal scans were seen significantly more often in patients receiving steroid treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: PET-CT is a sensitive imaging technique in PMR patients. Symptoms and PET-CT findings do not correlate in PMR. Steroid treatment prior to PET-CT reduces the scan's ability to demonstrate inflammation in PMR patients.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.