Primary adrenal lymphoma mimicking physiological kidney uptake on [18F]FDG PET/CT

Articles in Press

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department, Imam Reza International University, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran

10.22034/irjnm.2025.130005.1676

Abstract

An 80-year-old man with a history of abdominal pain and fatigue was evaluated for bilateral adrenal masses of unknown origin. He was referred to our department for [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging to further investigate the nature of these masses. The scan showed intense [18F]FDG uptake in both adrenal glands, which could initially be mistaken for physiological kidney uptake. A subsequent adrenal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma. Follow-up [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging showed complete metabolic response to treatment. This case highlights the critical role of [18F]FDG PET/CT in identifying malignant adrenal lesions and underscores the importances of considering primary adrenal lymphoma in the differential diagnosis when encountering intense, bilateral adrenal hypermetabolism.

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References

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Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 28 December 2025

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