FDG PET/CT imaging in diabetic patients - A special emphasis on imaging of infection

Nuclear Medicine (NM) imaging plays a major role in the assessment of infection and inflammation. Tracers, including single photon emitting radionuclides for Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) and agents for positron emission tomography (PET), reflect primarily tissue and cellular function or metabolism. In the specific clinical setting of a patient with suspected infectious or inflammatory process, planar scintigraphy, SPECT or PET procedures are used to support a clinically suspected diagnosis. Integrating metabolic and anatomic information using a single SPECT/CT or PET/CT technique has substantially improved the diagnostic accuracy of these imaging tests and advanced the NM technology to be a significant and important tool in the field of infection and inflammation. Diabetes, one of the most prevalent diseases, has a direct relationship with the development of various infection related condition. Due to alterations in different metabolic pathways, imaging of the diabetic patient may be subject to specific pitfalls and obstacles which should be taken into consideration. This review aimed at describing the impact of diabetes and hyperglycemia on NM imaging, with an emphasis on FDG-PET/CT, in specific infectious conditions related to diabetes.