Comparison of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 18F-FDG Thoracic Lymph Node and Pulmonary Lesion Uptake Using PET/CT in Postprimary Tuberculosis
Rosado-de-Castro PH, Pereira-de-Carvalho T, Menna Barreto M, Kritski AL, de Oliveira Souza R, Altino de Almeida S, Cavalcanti Rolla V, Araujo Zin W, et al. (10 authors)
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2022-04
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world's leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality. Positron emission tomography (PET) associated with computed tomography (CT) allows a structural and metabolic evaluation of TB lesions, being an excellent noninvasive alternative for understanding its pathogenesis. DOTATOC labeled with gallium-68 (68Ga-DOTATOC) can bind to somatostatin receptors present in activated macrophages and lymphocytes, cells with a fundamental role in TB pathogenesis. We describe 68Ga-DOTATOC uptake distribution and patterns in thoracic lymph nodes (LN) and pulmonary lesions (PL) in immunocompetent patients with active postprimary TB, analyze the relative LN/PL uptake, and compare this two tracer's uptake. High uptake of both radiotracers in PL and LN was demonstrated, with higher LN/PL ratio on 68Ga-DOTATOC (P < 0.05). Considering that LN in immunocompetent patients are poorly studied, 68Ga-DOTATOC can contribute to the understanding of the complex immunopathogenesis of TB.