Axillary lymph node visualization on F-18 FDG PET body scans in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
We report benign axillary tracer uptake on F-18 FDG PET scans in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Axillary tracer uptake was observed in 9 patients who were undergoing PET for staging or restaging of malignancy. The uptake was not in a pattern that would be expected for the patients' known malignancies. Additional clinical information was obtained and quantitation of tracer uptake in the upper extremities and axillae was performed.


RESULTS
All 9 patients were found to have rheumatoid arthritis. Increased axillary tracer uptake was bilateral in 7 patients and unilateral in 2 patients. In 8 of the patients the wrists were included in the field of view and showed elevated FDG uptake. On follow-up there was no evidence of malignancy in any of the axillary foci.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased axillary tracer uptake on F-18 FDG PET scans can be seen in conjunction with increased uptake in the wrists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and is not necessarily an indication of malignancy.
Seldin
David W
DW
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Franklin Square Hospital Center, Baltimore, MD 21237, USA. david.seldin@medstar.net
Habib
Ihsan
I
Soudry
Gabriel
G
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016477:Artifacts; D001365:Axilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18