Evaluatıon Of The Integrıty Of Actıve Inflammatıon By Comparıng 18f-Fdg Pet/Ct Fındıngs And Neutrophıl-Lymphocıde Rate In Sarocoıdosıs.

Aim

The decision to start treatment in sarcoidosis is made based on clinical and radiological findings and changes in pulmonary function test findings during follow-up, and more useful tools are needed in treatment management. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron required important tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) contains important information about the extent of sarcoidosis. On the other hand, the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) opens as a good prognostic marker for tissue-related inflammation. This study evaluated the relationship between the 18F-FDG PET/CT findings of sarcoidosis and NLR and other clinical findings.

Material and methods

The data of the patient who was diagnosed with sarcoidosis after 18F-FDG PET/CT examination in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' age, gender, NLR values, smoking status, extrathoracic involvement and symptoms, and 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were compared.

Results

This study consisted of 41 patients. There was a strong correlation between NLR and whole body total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and moderate correlation between  MAIA and NLR (r values: 0.852, 0.660, both of them p value: <0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference between the groups showing only thoracic involvement and additional extrathoracic involvement with MAIA, TLG and NLR values (p values,: 0.002, 0.001 and, 0.003, respectively). In the classification made according to the symptoms of the patients, there was no significant difference between the groups with SUVmax, MAIA, TLG and NLR values. Median values were found to be significantly higher in the elderly group (p values: 0.037 and 0.040, respectively). In the classification made according to gender; there was no significant difference in both PET/CT parameters and NLR values.

Conclusion

The close relationship between the NLR value, which is accepted as a prognostic indicator in sarcoidosis, and the 18F-FDG PET / CT findings which show the involvement of the disease in the whole body, may provide the clinician with significant benefits in treatment management.