Hyoepiglottic Rheumatoid Nodule Mimicking Head and Neck Malignancy on 18 F-FDG PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2023 Feb 1;48(2):e80-e81. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004458. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

Abstract

A 54-year-old man with a history of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy and an 18-year history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in remission without maintenance therapy presented with right cervical pain and dysphagia for several months. Flexible laryngoscopy did not show any lesion, and MRI revealed a necrotic lesion inside the thyro-hyo-epiglottic space attached to the hyoid bone. 18 F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated a moderately increased metabolic activity of the lesion without any other suspected lesions. Surgical resection was performed, and pathology revealed a necrotizing granuloma compatible with a rheumatoid nodule.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Rheumatoid Nodule* / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Radiopharmaceuticals