Detection of Active Inflammation Status Around Ventricular Aneurysms in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Background: Little is known about the pattern of isotope accumulation in the heart on F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) complicated by ventricular aneurysm (VA).

Methods and results: We prospectively enrolled 82 consecutive patients with CS; 54 patients with active CS (presence of abnormal F-FDG accumulation in the heart) were subdivided into VA (n=17) and non-VA groups (n=37). Strong F-FDG accumulation surrounding the VA and its disappearance in the VA center was observed in all patients with VA, probably because of scar formation at the VA. Peak standardized uptake value was higher around the VA than in the VA center (5.1±2.1 vs. 2.2±0.6, P=0.0003) and the VA center had no F-FDG accumulation (VA center: 2.2±0.6 vs. control area: 2.1±0.6, P=0.37). On the other hand, in non-VA patients with LV wall thinning (n=28), F-FDG accumulation was significantly high, even in the area of LV wall thinning (LV wall thinning area: 3.1±0.8 vs. control area: 2.0±0.6, P=0.00002).

Conclusions: A pattern of strong F-FDG accumulation surrounding the VA and its disappearance in the VA center might be characteristic in patients with CS complicated by VA. Careful attention to FDG uptake would further elucidate CS pathophysiology and aid in the early treatment of VA.