Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42249937›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging2026

Visual analysis of [

Luca Seitz, Rahel Friedli, Nasir Gözlügöl, Susana Bucher, Pascal Seitz, Fabian Lötscher, Marc Gilgen, Jennifer Amsler, Patrick Stähli, Fabrice Helfenstein and 7 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Luca SeitzDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Rahel FriedliDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Nasir GözlügölDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Susana BucherDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Pascal SeitzDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Fabian LötscherDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Marc GilgenDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Jennifer AmslerDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Patrick StähliDepartment of Angiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Fabrice HelfensteinDepartment of Angiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Yvonne DöringDepartment of Angiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Györgyi HamvasDepartment of Angiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Marc SchindewolfDepartment of Angiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Axel RomingerDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Britta MaurerDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Lisa ChristDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Federico CaobelliDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. federico.caobelli@insel.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2472-775X

Funding

University of Bern strategic funding grant 2022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background[¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT can be used to diagnose suspected new-onset giant cell arteritis (GCA), but it is unclear, whether visual or semiquantitative evaluation yields the highest accuracy. We therefore aimed to compare both methods with regard to diagnostic accuracy within the same patient.

methodsThis single centre study included all ≥ 50 year-old patients undergoing [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT between 2012 and 2023 for suspected new-onset GCA. Scans were re-read by two nuclear medicine physicians. Thirty-three arterial segments were scored visually, either with a standard criterion (activity at least equal liver, grade ≥ 2) or with a more specific one (activity above liver, grade 3). Standardized uptake values (SUVs) were measured in each segment, also normalized to liver and blood pool. For SUVs and ratios, ROC-curves were calculated per segment, segment groups and on the patient level to determine optimal cut-offs. The reference diagnosis was determined clinically by chart review after a follow-up of ≥ 6 months.

resultsA total of 163 patients, 39 (24%) with GCA, were included. Visual analysis with ≥ 1 segment with uptake grade ≥ 2 showed high sensitivity (80.0%, 95%-confidence interval (CI) 0.64-0.91) and specificity (83.0%, 95%-CI 0.75-0.89) and correct diagnosis in 82.0% (95%-CI 0.76-0.88). Using uptake grade 3, specificity was 96.0% (95%-CI 0.91-0.99) and sensitivity 59.0% (95%-CI 0.42-0.74), correct diagnosis in 87.0% (95%-CI 0.81-0.92). Semiquantitative methods proved less accurate, with SUVmax/SUVmax(liver) ratio at a threshold of 0.917 having the highest accuracy (sensitivity 87.2%, specificity 58.9%, correct diagnosis 65.6%).

conclusionIn suspected, new-onset GCA, expert visual interpretation of [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT should be recommended, as it outperforms semiquantitative methods.

Indexed as

Fluorodeoxyglucose F18Giant Cell ArteritisImage Processing, Computer-AssistedPositron Emission Tomography Computed TomographyAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityFluorodeoxyglucose F1818F-FDG PET/CTAtherosclerosisGiant cell arteritisLarge vessel vasculitisVisual interpretation

Identifiers

PMID42249937
PMCPMC13652860

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.