FDG-PET/CT Imaging in Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

We evaluated the possibility of using FDG PET CT imaging in the kidneys of patients with acute and chronic kidney disease. This was a retrospective study in which FDG PET CT imaging results were reviewed from a cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease and a cohort of patients with acute kidney injury along with matched controls. Our results suggest that FDG PET CT can differentiate healthy kidneys from those with stage 3b or 4 chronic kidney disease. In patients with acute kidney injury, there was substantial variability in renal cortical FDG signal compared to that of matched controls. Our results demonstrate that patients with chronic kidney disease maintain renal cortical FDG avidity until the progression of end stage renal disease. Further ongoing study is needed to determine whether distinct causes of AKI may be differentiated through FDG PET CT or other imaging.