Simultaneous occurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma and eosinophilic granuloma: a potential pitfall in positron emission tomography imaging

Clin Lymphoma. 2002 Sep;3(2):121-4. doi: 10.3816/clm.2002.n.019.

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose [18F]FDG has evolved as a method of increasingly clinical importance in the management of patients with malignant lymphoma. However, inflammatory lesions also accumulate [18F]FDG and may cause difficulties with interpretation. This report deals with 2 patients with simultaneous occurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma and eosinophilic granuloma, a rare but known coincidence of diseases. In the first case, Hodgkin's disease could not be differentiated from eosinophilic granuloma. Positron emission tomography showed increased [18F]FDG uptake both in lymphoma manifestations and in the granuloma. In the second case with proven Hodgkin's disease, post-treatment examination showed a positive PET lesion in the mediastinal residual mass, which was interpreted as viable lymphoma. However, histologic examination revealed that it was an eosinophilic granuloma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Eosinophilic Granuloma / complications*
  • Eosinophilic Granuloma / diagnosis*
  • Eosinophils / pathology
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications*
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Islets of Langerhans / cytology
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18