ABSTRACT
Histologic confirmation of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is challenging. When taken into account of either the invasive nature or potential false negativity of the endomyocardial biopsy, imaging methods represent as a major alternative to establish a clinical diagnosis. Among the imaging methods, the use of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) which detects active inflammation in CS is becoming widespread. Recently, F-18 FDG PET has been identified as one of the new diagnostic criteria in CS, by the Heart Rhythm Society. For diagnosis, a combination of both myocardial perfusion and inflammation findings should be interpreted visually and/or semiquantitatively. Yet, the precision of diagnostic accuracy has been limited by lack of an adequate reference standard. This procedure guideline presents current literature defining the role of F-18 FDG PET in the diagnosis and management of CS along with technical details and recommendations about imaging protocol and interpretation.
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