The potential of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI for identifying pain sources in patients with diagnostically challenging…

Cohort studyEuropean journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging· Aug 2026

The potential of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI for identifying pain sources in patients with diagnostically challenging chronic hip pain after total hip replacement.

Jacob M Mostert, Pieter K Bos, Michael Ananta … Rianne A van der Heijden

Nuclear & Molecular ImagingCohort studyQ1IF 5.8

PET/MRI identified a final pain diagnosis in more hip pain patients than usual work-up

The potential of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI for identifying pain sources in patients with diagnostically challenging chronic hip pain after total hip replacement.

Jacob M Mostert … Rianne A van der Heijden

European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · Aug 2026 · Q1 in Radiology

Background

Chronic hip pain after total hip replacement (total hip replacement) poses a diagnostic challenge and frequently yields lengthy and unsatisfactory diagnostic work-up.

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic role and clinical impact of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI compared with regular diagnostic work-up in patients with chronic hip pain after total hip replacement.

Methods

In this randomized study, 20 patients with persistent hip pain of unclear origin after total hip replacement underwent either PET/MRI-guided clinical management or regular diagnostic work-up.

n = 20 patients

Results

8/10

PET/MRI reached a final diagnosis in most patients, more than usual work-up

n = 20 patients

More results

Between-group differences could not be statistically tested due to insufficient statistical power.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Initial results demonstrate the potential of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI for the identification of pain sources in patients with diagnostically challenging chronic hip pain after total hip replacement.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Further research regarding clinical outcome is warranted in a larger cohort with standardized treatment strategies incorporating PET/MRI findings.

The potential of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI for identifying pain sources in patients with diagnostically challenging chronic hip pain after total hip replacement.

The potential of [ 18 F]FDG PET/MRI for identifying pain sources in patients with diagnostically challenging chronic hip pain after total hip replacement.

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