False-positive [18F]FDG PET/CT findings in breast cancer staging: Coexistence of tuberculosis, Warthin’s tumor and a thyroid nodule

Document Type : Case Report

Author

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy is often a diagnostic challenge while evaluating metastasis, since it is commonly encountered in granulomatous disease or because of reactive hyperplasia due to pulmonary inflammation. In this breast cancer case, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG PET/CT) revealed a metastatic axillary lymph node with faint uptake and no detectable ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node. However, hypermetabolic lymphadenopathies in the contralateral supraclavicular area and mediastinum were observed. Biopsy for these nodes demonstrated chronic necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis and the latent tuberculosis infection test was positive. Tuberculous lymphadenitis coexisting with breast cancer was diagnosed. [18F]FDG uptake mimicking metastasis in benign lesions may be observed in cancer patients. Understanding the typical spread pattern of the disease is helpful in preventing misdiagnosis.

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References

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