Fat hypertrophy in a pharyngeal reconstruction flap presenting as an enlarging neck mass: demonstration of benign changes with PET/CT.
The patient is a 73-year-old man with a history of radioresistant recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, treated with total laryngectomy/pharyngectomy and rectus abdominis deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction, who presented with a painless enlarging neck mass. Physical examination revealed increased neck bulk and fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy was negative. The clinician was concerned about underlying recurrent neoplasm or adenopathy displacing the flap outward and referred the patient for PET/CT.
Roarke
Michael C
MC
Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. michael.mayo.edu
Nguyen
Ba D
BD
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed