A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal

Advancements in PET imaging of inflammatory cardiac diseases




AuthorsBund, Sebastian; Ståhle, Mia; Massalha, Samia; Wechalekar, Kshama; Rominger, Axel; Caobelli, Federico

PublisherElsevier

Publication year2026

Journal: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine

ISSN0001-2998

eISSN1558-4623

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2026.04.007

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2026.04.007


Abstract

Inflammatory cardiac diseases such as myocarditis, cardiac sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and immune-mediated toxicities remain diagnostically challenging because clinically relevant questions often concern whether inflammation is active, resolving, or already caused a scar. Positron emission tomography (PET) has moved from a predominantly fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG)-based approach toward a broader molecular imaging platform that combines technical innovation with tracer diversification. This review summarizes recent advances in PET imaging of inflammatory cardiac disease, including new hardware and promising new radiotracers. Current evidence supports PET as a tool not only for diagnosis but also for treatment monitoring and risk stratification, and future progress will depend on standardization, histologic validation, and integration of advanced hardware, disease-specific tracers, and multimodality biomarkers into clinically actionable pathways.



Last updated on 07/05/2026 09:38:05 AM