Is 18F-FDG PET/CT useful for diagnosing relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement and monitoring response to steroid-based therapy?

Table 3 Correlation of PET/CT with cartilage biopsy in diagnosing RP

PET/CT^a	Cartilage biopsy		Total
PET/CT^a	Positive	Negative	Total
Nasal cartilage
Positive	5	0	5
Negative	0	0	0
Total	5	0	5
McNemar’s chi-square test: χ² = NaN; p = NaN
Auricular cartilage
Positive	8	1	9
Negative	12	1	13
Total	20	2	22
McNemar’s chi-square test: χ² = 7.69; p = 0.005
Tracheal/bronchial cartilage
Positive	2	17	19
Negative	0	4	4
Total	2	21	23
McNemar’s chi-square test: χ² = 15.1; p = 0.001

PET/CT positron emission tomography/computed tomography, NaN not a number, RP relapsing polychondritis
^aPET/CT-guided biopsy was performed in affected cartilage when PET/CT showed increased FDG uptake

ISSN: 1478-6362