Accumulation of FDG in axillary sweat glands in hyperhidrosis: a pitfall in whole-body PET examination

Eur Radiol. 1998;8(3):482-3. doi: 10.1007/s003300050421.

Abstract

A diabetic male with severe autonomic neuropathy and recently discovered Hodgkin's disease demonstrated bilateral uptake of [2-18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) in the axillary sweat glands during profuse sweating caused by hypoglycaemia at positron emission tomography examination. It is not yet clear whether the sweating interfered with the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical. Regardless of the cause or mechanism for the uptake, the finding is clinically relevant. A bilateral symmetrical accumulation of FDG in the axillae of a tumour patient does not necessarily indicate malignant involvement of the lymph nodes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apocrine Glands / metabolism*
  • Apocrine Glands / physiopathology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Axilla
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / pharmacokinetics*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Groin
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Hyperhidrosis / metabolism*
  • Hyperhidrosis / physiopathology
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics*
  • Sweating / physiology
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed*
  • Whole-Body Counting*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18