The role of [18F]FDG PET/CT in paraneoplastic autoimmune disorders: an umbrella review.

Paraneoplastic autoimmune disorders (PAD) are a group of autoimmune diseases associated with neoplasms. Several evidence-based articles (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) have reported data about the role of positron emission tomography (PET) and related hybrid modalities (e.g., PET/CT) using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) in patients with PAD. We performed an umbrella review of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses in this setting to provide an evidence-based summary and suggestions for further studies. Several databases were searched to find systematic reviews and meta-analysis on [F]FDG PET/CT in PAD. Evidence-based data support the use of [F]FDG PET/CT in patients with suspected PAD for investigating an underlying malignancy even if it is still unclear whether [F]FDG PET/CT should be performed after negative/inconclusive conventional imaging or as part of the initial workup of PAD.