From the Guidelines
Oral corticosteroids can significantly affect PET/CT results by reducing [18F]FDG uptake, potentially leading to false-negative results 1.
Key Considerations
- The administration of oral steroids, such as prednisone, can alter glucose metabolism and uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in various tissues 1.
- High-dose oral glucocorticoids may not significantly affect diagnostic accuracy within the first few days after treatment onset, but a more significant reduction in uptake intensity can occur after approximately 10 days 1.
- A discontinuation of glucocorticoids for at least 2 weeks can be considered if clinical presentation allows, to enhance the sensitivity of PET/CT results 1.
Clinical Implications
- Oral steroids may cause decreased FDG uptake in inflammatory lesions, potentially leading to false-negative findings 1.
- The use of IV glucocorticoids may shorten the "diagnostic window" to less than 3 days 1.
- A controlled reduction of prednisolone dose for 1 week followed by a 1-week discontinuation may significantly enhance the sensitivity of PET/CT results 1.
From the Research
Effect of Oral Corticosteroids on PET/CT Results
- There are no direct research papers provided to assist in answering this question regarding the effect of oral corticosteroids on Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) results 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies provided focus on the effects of oral prednisone or prednisolone on various conditions such as atherosclerosis 2, hand osteoarthritis 3, and the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of other drugs like rongliflozin 4 and empagliflozin 5, 6.
- None of the studies directly investigate the impact of oral corticosteroids on PET/CT results, which are commonly used in medical imaging for diagnostic purposes.
- Further research would be necessary to determine the effects of oral corticosteroids on PET/CT outcomes.