To examine whether the clinical severity of cervical dystonia (CD) significantly correlates with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) findings as well as to determine the threshold of the clinical severity of CD for positive 18F-FDG PET/CT study findings.
Forty-seven subjects with torticollis as one of the symptoms of CD were included. The clinical severity of CD was evaluated with the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) at the time of 18F-FDG PET/CT. The correlation between the clinical severity of CD and the highest SUVmax was examined. The threshold of the clinical severity of CD necessary for positive 18F-FDG PET/CT findings was determined using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis.
Thirty-three of the 47 subjects (70.21%) showed positive 18F-FDG PET/CT findings. The ipsilateral splenius capitis/cervicis, oblique capitis inferior, and longus colli/capitis were the rotators most frequently involved. The highest SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT was significant correlated with the TWSTRS. Subjects with a total TWSTRS exceeding 39 showed positive 18F-FDG PET/CT findings, with those having a total TWSTRS ≤22 showing negative 18F-FDG PET/CT results. The cutoff value of the total TWSTRS for positive 18F-FDG PET/CT findings was set at 27.5 with 90.9% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity.
A significant correlation was evident between the clinical severity of CD and 18F-FDG PET/CT findings, providing a threshold of the clinical severity of CD for acquisition of positive 18F-FDG PET/CT findings.
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To evaluate the usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in the management of cervical dystonia (CD) with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection.
Thirty two subjects with CD were included. A BoNT-A injection was provided either by clinically targeting method (group 1) or by 18F-FDG PET/CT-assisted, clinically targeting method (group 2). In group 2, selection of target muscles and dosage of BoNT-A were determined according to the increased 18F-FDG uptake, in addition to physical examination and functional anatomy. The outcomes of BoNT-A injection was compared between the two groups, in terms of the number of subjects who had reinjection before and after 6 months, the number of reinjections, the interval of reinjections, the duration to the minimal Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), the number of adverse events, the reduction rate of TWSTRS at 1-3 months and 3-6 months after injection, and the probability of reinjection-free living.
The number of subjects who had reinjection within 6 months was significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 (10 in group 1 vs. 3 in group 2). The reduction rate of TWSTRS after 3-6 months (37.8±15.7% of group 1 vs. 63.3±28.0% of group 2) and the probability of reinjection-free living were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1.
These findings suggest that 18F-FDG PET/CT study could be useful in management of CD in terms of the identification of dystonic muscles if there is an increase in the 18F-FDG uptake in the cervical muscle of the images.
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