False positive and false negative FDG-PET scans in various thoracic diseases.
Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) is being used more and more to differentiate benign from malignant focal lesions and it has been shown to be more efficacious than conventional chest computed tomography (CT). However, FDG is not a cancer-specific agent, and false positive findings in benign diseases have been reported. Infectious diseases (mycobacterial, fungal, bacterial infection), sarcoidosis, radiation pneumonitis and post-operative surgical conditions have shown intense uptake on PET scan. On the other hand, tumors with low glycolytic activity such as adenomas, bronchioloalveolar carcinomas, carcinoid tumors, low grade lymphomas and small sized tumors have revealed false negative findings on PET scan. Furthermore, in diseases located near the physiologic uptake sites (heart, bladder, kidney, and liver), FDG-PET should be complemented with other imaging modalities to confirm results and to minimize false negative findings. Familiarity with these false positive and negative findings will help radiologists interpret PET scans more accurately and also will help to determine the significance of the findings. In this review, we illustrate false positive and negative findings of PET scan in a variety of diseases.
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Min
JM
Chang
Hyun Ju
HJ
Lee
Jin Mo
JM
Goo
Ho-Young
HY
Lee
Jong Jin
JJ
Lee
June-Key
JK
Chung
Jung-Gi
JG
Im
D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18