REVIEW  FDG PET/CT FOR INFECTION AND INFLAMMATION: A PRACTICAL APPROACH Free access

The Quarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025 March;69(1):39-47

DOI: 10.23736/S1824-4785.25.03614-3

Copyright © 2025 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

[18F]FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis of diabetic foot osteomyelitis

Aubert ROY ✉, Huy LE, Gad ABIKHZER

Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

Infected foot ulcers are common complications in diabetic patients and frequently progress to osteomyelitis. [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has emerged as a practical and accurate imaging modality to differentiate between soft tissue infection and diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO). This study describes [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT indications, diagnostic accuracy, imaging protocols, interpretation criteria and pitfalls for the work-up of DFO.

KEY WORDS: Arthropathy, neurogenic; Diabetic foot; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Positron-emission tomography; Tomography, X-ray computed; Osteomyelitis