In vivo imaging of invasive aspergillosis with 18F-fluorodeoxysorbitol positron emission tomography
Dong‐Yeon Kim, Ayoung Pyo, Sehyeon Ji, Sung-Hwan You, Seong Eun Kim, Daejin Lim, Hee-Jung Kim, Kyung‐Hwa Lee, Se-Jeong Oh, Ye-Rim Jung, Uh Jin Kim, Subin Jeon, Seong Young Kwon, Sae‐Ryung Kang, Hyang Burm Lee, Hoon Hyun, So Young Kim, Kyung‐Sub Moon, Sunwoo Lee, Seung‐Ji Kang, Jung‐Joon Min, Seung‐Ji Kang, Jung‐Joon Min
Abstract
Abstract Invasive aspergillosis is a critical complication in immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies or with viral pneumonia caused by influenza virus or SARS‑CoV‑2. Although early and accurate diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis can maximize clinical outcomes, current diagnostic methods are time-consuming and poorly sensitive. Here, we assess the ability of 2-deoxy-2- 18 F-fluorosorbitol ( 18 F-FDS) positron emission tomography (PET) to specifically and noninvasively detect Aspergillus infections. We show that 18 F-FDS PET can be used to visualize Aspergillus fumigatus infection of the lungs, brain, and muscles in mouse models. In particular, 18 F-FDS can distinguish pulmonary aspergillosis from Staphylococcus aureus infection, both of which induce pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients. Thus, our results indicate that the combination of 18 F-FDS PET and appropriate clinical information may be useful in the differential diagnosis and localization of invasive aspergillosis.