# Acute and Chronic Presentation of Melioidosis: 18 F-FDG PET/CT Case Series

## TL;DR

This case series explores the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing melioidosis, a multi-system infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei.

## Contribution

The study presents two cases where 18F-FDG PET/CT was used to detect and assess melioidosis, highlighting its potential diagnostic utility.

## Key findings

- 18F-FDG PET/CT identified abscess locations and extent in melioidosis patients.
- The imaging technique revealed multifocal infections and affected organs in the case series.

## Abstract

Melioidosis is an infectious disease that is caused by a gram-negative bacillus,
Burkholderia pseudomallei
, which has been designated as a category B bioterrorism agent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Melioidosis manifests as a multi-system disorder. The effectiveness of
18
F-FDG PET/CT (18-fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography) in diagnosing or managing melioidosis is currently uncertain or not well-established.
18
F-FDG PET/CT is a useful tool in detecting the location and extent of abscess formation, assessing the organs involved, and detecting occult foci of infection, due to the multifocal nature of the disease. Herein, we present cases of two patients referred for a whole-body
18
F-FDG PET/CT scan with a history of pyrexia of unknown origin.