Demonstration of Resolution of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Over a Short Course of Antibiotics on [ 18 F]FDG-PET/CT Undertaken for Suspected Perimyocarditis Evaluation

Abstract

Abstract A 28-year-old male presenting with left-sided pleuritic chest pain, cough, palpitation, and fever with mild ST depression in II, III, and aVF, raised troponin I, troponin T, creatine phosphokinase-MB, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was referred for F-18 2-fluoro 2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography with noncontrast computed tomography ([ 18 F]FDG-PET/CT) to rule out perimyocarditis. The first scan revealed incidental finding of [ 18 F]FDG avid left lobar pneumonia and inadequate myocardial suppression, thus perimyocarditis could not be ruled out. The clinician was informed and after counseling, patient consented for a repeat study post-high fat-low carbohydrate diet. A regional [ 18 F]FDG-PET/CT on the 5th day revealed adequate myocardial suppression, ruling out perimyocarditis. However, the metabolic and anatomical resolution of previously noted left lobar pneumonia was also observed in such a span of time with the administered antibiotics.