Malignant lesions can mimic gastric uptake on FDG PET

Clin Nucl Med. 2006 Jan;31(1):37-8. doi: 10.1097/01.rlu.0000191575.85516.ef.

Abstract

Gastric FDG uptake is a common observation on positron emission tomography (PET), which is most frequently caused by a nonmalignant etiology. However, a malignant lesion in the region of the stomach must not be overlooked. A 48-year-old woman with a history of melanoma in the esophagus and status postesophagectomy underwent FDG PET to evaluate for tumor recurrence. The images demonstrated hypermetabolism in the region of the location of the stomach. However, considering that the patient had a history of a stomach pullthrough procedure, we felt that this activity was nongastric and represented tumor recurrence, which was subsequently confirmed by computed tomography scan and histopathologic examination.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18* / pharmacokinetics
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Melanoma / metabolism
  • Melanoma / secondary*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / secondary*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics
  • Stomach / diagnostic imaging
  • Stomach Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / secondary*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18