title: False-positive PET scan in a patient with lipoid pneumonia simulating lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipoid pneumonia usually presents with alveolar infiltrates or as a nonresolving process. We report a case of lipoid pneumonia that presented as a solitary pulmonary nodule and had a high standard uptake value on PET scan, thereby mimicking a malignant process. This case highlights the presence of false-positive PET imaging in a patient with lipoid pneumonia and Mycobacterium chelonae infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was examined using CT scanning. The nodule was further investigated with a PET scan using F-18 FDG and the standard uptake value was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathology following removal of the nodule confirmed the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia, and the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was reported as M. chelonae, a rapidly growing mycobacterium (RGM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipoid pneumonia can present as a PET-positive lung nodule and should be considered in the differential diagnosis and workup of a solitary pulmonary nodule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA. arunabh@nshs.edu
authors.forename: Arunabh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayerhoff
authors.forename: Darrin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanek
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011017:Pneumonia, Lipid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18