Age-related inflammatory changes in the spine as demonstrated by (18)F-FDG-PET:observation and insight into degenerative spinal changes.

Our aim was to determine whether the inflammatory component associated with age-related degenerative changes in the spine can be assessed by (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET). Mean and maximum standardize uptake values (SUV(mean) and SUV(max)) of intervertebral discs and spinous processes were measured in 45 patients who had undergone (18)F-FDG-PET for any clinical indication. Correlations between age and FDG-PET indices (SUV(mean) and SUV(max) of intervertebral discs and spinous processes) were determined. Pearson's correlation coefficients between age and intervertebral disc SUV(mean), between age and intervertebral disc SUV(max), and between age and spinous process SUV(mean) were 0.4821, 0.3946, and 0.5017 (P<0.05), indicating moderate positive correlations between these parameters. However, Pearson's correlation coefficient between age and spinous process SUV(max)was 0.7998 (P>0.05), indicating no correlation between these two parameters. In conclusion, intensity of (18)F-FDG uptake in the intervertebral discs and spinous processes generally increases with aging, which is likely to reflect associated inflammatory processes.