PET/CT features of extrapulmonary tuberculosis at first clinical presentation: a cross-sectional observational¹⁸F-FDG imaging study across six countries

Background A large proportion of the huge global burden of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) cases are treated empirically without accurate definition of disease sites and extent of multi-organ disease involvement. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using 2-deoxy-2-(fluorine-18) fluoro- d -glucose ( 18 F-FDG) in tuberculosis could be a useful imaging technique for localising disease sites and extent of disease. Methods We conducted a study of HIV-negative adult patients with a new clinical diagnosis of EPTB across eight centres located in six countries: India, Pakistan, Thailand, South Africa, Serbia and Bangladesh, to assess the extent of disease and common sites involved at first presentation. 18 F-FDG PET/computed tomography (CT) scans were performed within 2 weeks of presentation. Findings 358 patients with EPTB…