Diagnosis of pneumothorax on F-18 FDG PET after transbronchial biopsy.
Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is associated with pneumothorax, 12% occurring 1 to 4 hours postprocedure (delayed pneumothorax). We report a case of a delayed pneumothorax first diagnosed on a positron emission tomography (PET) scan performed 5 days after TBLB. An early post-TBLB chest radiograph (after 1 hour) had not demonstrated any pneumothorax. The delayed pneumothorax was later confirmed with a repeat radiograph after the PET scan. Often, PET is performed to diagnose or stage pulmonary lesions after TBLB rather than before. Therefore, nuclear physicians must remain vigilant to recognize subtle pneumothoraces on PET scans.
Ghofrani
Mohsen
M
Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Aultman Hospital, Department of Radiology, Canton, OH 44710, USA. mohsen_48@yahoo.com
Kim
Benedict
B
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18