The role of 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in monitoring the immunosuppressive therapy response of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the pre and post treatment 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) with its clinical response to immunosuppressive therapy.


METHODS
Forty-nine-year-old female presented with dyspnea, chest pain, and weight loss and underwent an FDG-PET/CT scan before and after mediastinal biopsy and treatment with dexamethasone and thalidomide.


RESULTS
FDG-PET/CT scan demonstrated a hypermetabolic mediastinal mass. The biopsy of the lesion was consistent with IMT. Following immunosuppressive therapy, the patient's clinical findings resolved, and PET/CT showed a significant decrease in the FDG uptake and the size of the mass.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-treatment imaging features and post-treatment imaging characteristics of IMT correlate with clinical findings and suggest that FDG-PET/CT may be useful as an adjunct to clinical evaluation in monitoring of immunosuppressive therapy of IMT.
Obrzut
Sebastian L
SL
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Ahmanson Biological Imaging Center, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Halpern
Benjamin S
BS
Monchamp
Travis
T
Grabski
Karsten
K
Watts
William J
WJ
Czernin
Johannes
J
D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006104:Granuloma, Plasma Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18