Relapsing polychondritis on PET/CT.

PET/CT Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.

Clinical nuclear medicine 2012 Jul

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare multisystemic disease, which is characterized by recurrent inflammation of the cartilaginous structures. We report a case of a 37-year-old man with progressive respiratory distress. Chest Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated increased attenuation and smooth thickening of airway walls. Positron emission tomography/CT scan identified the multisystemic cartilaginous abnormalities that were recognized by an increased fluorine-18 deoxyglucose uptake on nasal cartilages, laryngeal cartilages, tracheobronchial tree, and rib cartilages. Positron emission tomography/CT is a useful tool to diagnose relapsing polychondritis, as the condition shows multisystemic cartilaginous abnormalities that can be identified by an increased fluorine-18 deoxyglucose uptake.