Carotid patch infection following carotid patch angioplasty is a rare but serious complication. Accurate diagnosis is vital yet currently ill-defined. We present the use of computed tomography positron emission tomography and leucocyte radioisotope scintigraphy and highlight their potential role in the diagnosis of equivocal carotid patch infection.
MannCDMcCarthyMNasimA. Management and outcome of prosthetic patch infection after carotid endarterectomy: a single-centre series and systematic review of the literature. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg2012; 44: 20–26.
2.
KnightBCTaitWF. Dacron patch infection following carotid endarterectomy: a systematic review of the literature. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg2009; 37: 140–148.
LazarisASayersRDThompsonM. Patch corrugation on duplex ultrasonography may be an early warning of prosthetic patch infection. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg2005; 29: 91–92.
5.
SueDEBrant-ZawadzkiMNChanceJ. Dissection of cranial arteries in the neck: correlation of MRI and arteriography. Neuroradiology1992; 34: 273–278.
6.
RizzoAHertzerNRO'HaraPJ. Dacron carotid patch infection: a report of eight cases. J Vasc Surg2000; 32: 602–606.
7.
BrugginkJLGlaudemansAWSaleemBR. Accuracy of FDG-PET-CT in the diagnostic work-up of vascular prosthetic graft infection. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg2010; 40: 348–354.
8.
SpacekMBelohlavekOVotrubovaJ. Diagnostics of “non-acute” vascular prosthesis infection using 18F-FDG PET/CT: our experience with 96 prostheses. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging2009; 36: 850–858.
9.
KeidarZEngelAHoffmanA. Prosthetic vascular graft infection: the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT. J Nucl Med2007; 48: 1230–1236.
10.
LiberatoreMIurilliAPPonzoF. Aortofemoral graft infection: the usefulness of 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leukocyte scan. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg1997; 14 Suppl A: 27–29.
WasseliusJMalmstedtJKalinB. High 18F-FDG Uptake in synthetic aortic vascular grafts on PET/CT in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. J Nucl Med2008; 49: 1601–1605.