What is the utility of FDG PET in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, and endoscopy are commonly used to evaluate patients with IBD. However, detection and quantification of the active inflammatory components may be challenging, even though these tasks are important for treatment planning and response assessment purposes. FDG PET provides a means for the early detection and quantification of the active inflammatory component of IBD and is therefore complementary with the other diagnostic techniques. Furthermore, other areas of inflammation outside of the bowel that are often seen in patients with IBD may also be detected on FDG PET. The precise role of FDG PET in the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected or known IBD is not currently defined and is presently a subject of clinical research study. On FDG PET, increased FDG uptake is observed in bowel loops that are affected by active IBD
