Abnormal F-18-FDG and Rb-82 PET Findings in Chagas Heart Disease

摘要

Uptake of the radiopharmaceutical F-18-FDG visualized by PET imaging can reflect abnormal myocardial inflammation. When utilized in conjunction with other imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, PET F-18-FDG imaging can help distinguish between active cardiac sarcoidosis and other etiologies of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We present a case of a 46-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia who underwent an echocardiogram suggestive of cardiac Chagas disease. A subsequent F-18-FDG PET demonstrated abnormal hypermetabolism. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive serologic examination results.