Glp-1 Receptor Agonists Linked To Altered Patterns On Fdg Pet-ct Scans

The increasing usage of GLP-1 receptor agonists whitethorn impact nan mentation of oncological FDG PET-CT scans, caller investigation presented coming astatine nan 38th Annual Congress of nan European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM'25) has revealed.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are now wide prescribed for individuals pinch type 2 glucosuria and weight loss, pinch a 700% summation successful usage reported successful nan United States betwixt 2019 and 2023. These medications change glucose metabolism, gastric motility and sympathetic tone, which whitethorn lead to unsocial uptake patterns connected PET-CT. Previous lawsuit reports person shown accrued FDG uptake successful skeletal muscle, myocardium and brownish adipose tissue, findings that whitethorn beryllium mistaken for malignancy aliases inflammatory disease.

Researchers from Alliance Medical Ltd. performed a retrospective lawsuit bid reappraisal of oncologic FDG PET-CT scans successful patients taking GLP-1 agonists. They observed respective atypical patterns of tracer uptake that could beryllium misinterpreted arsenic pathology if a patient's medicine history is not considered.

We noticed different uptake successful 1 of our patients connected a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider reappraisal crossed our network. We recovered that these altered patterns are progressively common, yet location is presently nary nationalist aliases world guidance successful nan UK addressing this emerging issue."

Dr. Peter Strouhal, Lead Author, Medical Director astatine Alliance Medical Ltd.

Misinterpreting these uptake patterns tin lead to unnecessary investigations, inappropriate crab staging and delays successful treatment, which whitethorn origin accent and uncertainty for patients. "Recognizing nan characteristic uptake associated pinch GLP-1 agonists helps debar unnecessary worry and interventions, ensuring patients person nan correct care, astatine nan correct time, without detours aliases doubt," Dr Strouhal added.

At present, nan researchers do not urge altering diligent mentation aliases stopping GLP-1 agonists anterior to FDG PET-CT scans. Instead, they counsel that imaging teams cautiously archive patients' medicine histories to pass mentation while general guidance is developed. Current UK guidelines do not reside this issue, though Australian guidance suggests continuing treatment, fasting from midnight, scheduling greeting scans and ensuring bully glucose control.

The investigation group intends to widen their information postulation crossed further imaging centers to supply a stronger grounds guidelines for early nationalist guidance. They besides purpose to found world collaborations truthful that patients everyplace use from accordant and reliable PET-CT interpretation.