The novel use of PET/CT in the diagnosis of porous orbital implant infection

1. WengOnn Chan
2. Eugenie Poh
3. Dinesh Selva

South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology and Discipline of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

Purpose: To investigate the use of Positron emission tomography/Computed tomography (PET/CT) in the diagnosis of porous orbital implant infection.

Methods: A PET/CT of the orbit was performed on a 74 year old lady that presented with 6 months history of worsening, recurrent purulent discharge from her right socket.

Results: PET/CT of the orbit revealed increased uptake of FDG in the implant and soft tissue directly posterior to the implant. The imaging prompted explantation of the implant for suspected infected orbital implant. Intra-operatively there was pus extruding and collecting anterior to the implant. Both histology and microbiology supported the diagnosis of chronic infected orbital implant.

Conclusion: PET/CT may be a sensitive, high resolution imaging modality for diagnosing chronic low grade implant infection