REVIEW ARTICLEDiagnostic performance of Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and a meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo systematically review and meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic performance of Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).MethodsA comprehensive computer literature search of studies published through May 2012 regarding 18F-FDG-PET and PET/CT in patients with IBD was performed. All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR + and LR −) and diagnostic odd ratio (DOR) of 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT in patients with IBD on a per segment-based analysis were calculated. The area under the ROC curve was calculated to measure the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT in patients with IBD.ResultsNineteen studies comprising 454 patients with suspected IBD were included in the qualitative analysis (systematic review) and discussed. The quantitative analysis (meta-analysis) of seven selected studies (including 219 patients with IBD) provided the following results on a per segment-based analysis: sensitivity was 85% [95% confidence interval (95%CI) 81-88%], specificity 87% (95%CI 84-90%), LR + 6.19 (95%CI: 2.86-13.41), LR − 0.19 (95%CI: 0.10-0.34), and DOR 44.35 (95%CI: 11.77-167.07). The area under the ROC curve was 0.933.ConclusionsIn patients with suspected IBD 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity, being accurate methods in this setting. Nevertheless, the literature focusing on the use of PET and PET/CT in IBD remains still limited; thus, further large multicenter studies will be necessary to substantiate the diagnostic accuracy of these methods in patients with IBD.