PET Scans and AI Improve Understanding of Atypical PMR

Researchers from the AustPMRGCA group have demonstrated that specialised PET/CT imaging can identify characteristic PMR patterns even in patients whose symptoms do not fit traditional diagnostic criteria.

The paper, titled "Polymyalgia rheumatica patients presenting with atypical clinical features still exhibit characteristic 18F-FDG PET/CT findings", was published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

The study also showed that an artificial intelligence model correctly recognised PMR in more than 90% of atypical cases. These findings suggest that advanced imaging and AI technologies may help clinicians diagnose difficult cases more accurately in the future.

For patients, earlier and more confident diagnosis can mean faster access to appropriate treatment and fewer delays in receiving care.