Diagnostic value of fluorine-18 deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in deep sternal wound infection

Publication date: Available online 2 August 2018

Source: Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery

Author(s): Ru-fan Zhang, Zi-hao Feng, Yong Zhang, Hui Tan, Jian Wang, Fa-zhi Qi

Abstract

Objectives

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a refractory complication after heart surgery, and debridement is the first-line treatment. The accurate identification of the extent of the infection is the key to successful debridement. The present study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18 deoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) for identifying the infected area of DSWI.

Methods

Between February 2015 and May 2017, 73 consecutive patients with suspected DSWI received ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT examinations before their operation. The PET/CT and extracted CT images were analyzed by nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists to determine whether the sternum, mediastinum, vascular prosthesis and each costal cartilage were infected. All the patients received debridement and chest wall reconstruction within 1 week following the PET scan. The final diagnosis was based on surgical, microbiological and histopathologic findings.

Results

Of the 73 patients, 64, 54, 28 and 6 were diagnosed with sternal osteomyelitis, mediastinitis, costal chondritis and vascular graft infection, respectively. The sensitivities of PET/CT for diagnosing sternal osteomyelitis, mediastinitis, and costal chondritis were 98.4%, 77.8% and 100.0%, respectively, and the corresponding specificities were 94.7%, 82.1% and 100.0%. PET/CT correctly diagnosed all 6 cases of vascular graft infection. There were 65 infected costal cartilages in the patients with costal chondritis. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET/CT for locating infected costal cartilages were 81.5%, 99.8% and 98.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

PET/CT proved to be a useful tool for determining the depth of DSWI and for locating infected costal cartilage; therefore, this tool can help guide debridement.