title: Utility of positron emission tomography in the mediastinum: moving beyond lung and esophageal cancer staging.
abstract: PET and PET-CT are rapidly evolving as modalities of thoracic imaging. In the mediastinum, PET can provide information to distinguish thymic hyperplasia from neoplasia, although the use of this imaging for this purpose is not accepted uniformly as necessary. PET is the standard of care in staging and follow-up of mediastinal lymphoma and in follow-up of metastatic seminomas after chemotherapy. Mycobacterial/fungal infections, sarcoidosis, and brown fat can mimic malignant findings on PET in the mediastinum.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Queeny Tower, 3108, One Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: Bryan F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Meyers
mesh_terms: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18