Constant ambient temperature of 24 degrees C significantly reduces FDG uptake by brown adipose tissue in children scanned during the winter.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if warming patients prior to and during (18)F-FDG uptake by controlling the room temperature could decrease uptake by brown adipose tissue (BAT). A group of 40 children underwent (18)F-FDG PET after being kept in the injection room at a constant temperature of 24 degrees C for half an hour before and 1 hour after intravenous tracer administration. The rate of uptake by BAT in this group was compared to the uptake in a control group of 45 patients who underwent PET when the injection room temperature was 21 degrees C. Uptake by BAT occurred in 5% of studies in the temperature-controlled room compared to 31% of studies performed when the injection room temperature was 21 degrees C (p<0.002). Maintaining room temperature at a constant 24 degrees C, half an hour prior to and during the period of FDG uptake significantly decreases accumulation of FDG in BAT in children.