An immunoglobulin G4-related disease mimicking postoperative lung cancer recurrence

Mod Rheumatol. 2012 Sep;22(5):787-90. doi: 10.1007/s10165-011-0580-y. Epub 2012 Jan 5.

Abstract

A postoperative lung cancer patient presented with lymphadenopathy, pleural thickening, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on a positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan. Lung cancer recurrence was initially suspected, but bilateral submandibular masses with 18F-FDG uptake indicated the possibility of a systemic disease, such as Mikulicz's disease. High serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration in the submandibular glands led to the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease. After systemic steroid therapy, 18F-FDG uptake decreased in both the submandibular glands and the suspected recurrent lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymphatic Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Mikulicz' Disease / diagnosis
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis*
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • Pleura / pathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Submandibular Gland / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Prednisolone