ArticleBrain & spine2026
The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in spinal infections: A comprehensive diagnostic tool.
Article in Brain & spine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Spondylodiscitis poses diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms and limitations of conventional imaging modalities. Moreover, causative infection foci often remain unidentified. Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of the infectious focus are essential to prevent severe complications. Research question: This study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT in patients with suspected spondylodiscitis and its ability to identify additional infectious foci. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis included 191 patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT for suspected spondylodiscitis between 01.01.2016 and 31.12.2023. PET findings were compared with MRI, pathological, and microbiological and clinical data. Results: Spinal infection was confirmed in 160 of 191 patients. In patients with inconclusive MRI findings (n = 46), FDG-PET/CT led to diagnostic reclassification in 21 cases (45.7%). In the subgroup analyzed for diagnostic accuracy (n = 56), sensitivity was 56% for FDG-PET/CT and 62% for MRI, increasing to 74% when both modalities were combined (p = 0.002). Specificity was 96% for FDG-PET/CT and 86% for MRI. FDG-PET/CT identified 23 previously unknown extraspinal infectious foci and confirmed 23 suspected foci, resulting in detection of infectious sources in 73% of patients. Infectious foci were detected more frequently in cervical infections (33.3% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.001). Patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT showed higher clinical resolution rates at follow-up (p = 0.045). Discussion and conclusion: FDG-PET/CT provides complementary value in suspected spondylodiscitis, particularly in cases with inconclusive MRI and for detecting additional infectious foci, supporting its role in multimodal diagnostic strategies.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.