Aortic graft infection with psoas abscess
Case submitted by Nazim Coskun
63-year-old male
Abdominal pain, fever, malaise
Underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) 3 years ago
Selected slices showing intense, multifocal FDG uptake around the aortic graft (SUVmax: 10.53) and left psoas abscess (SUVmax: 11.3).
Case Notes
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) involves inserting graft components within the aneurysmatic vessel, usually through the common femoral artery. 18F-FDG PET/CT has an important role in the diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infections. Multifocal FDG uptake suggests graft infection in suspected patients, whereas homogeneous uptake mostly indicates reactive processes. The peak of reactive FDG uptake in the post-operative phase occurs during the first couple of weeks, during which the value of a PET is diminished. It is expected that reactive FDG uptake will regress in approximately 4 weeks after surgery.