title: Pituitary adenomas can appear as hypermetabolic lesions in (18) F-FDG PET imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 2-deoxy-2-[(18) F] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan is commonly used in detection and staging of many malignant neoplasms. However, several benign or non-neoplastic conditions avidly accumulate (18) F-FDG, causing ambiguity in interpretation of results. It is unknown whether pituitary adenomas uptake (18) F-FDG and appear positive in PET imaging. Here, we present 2 cases of benign pituitary adenoma with elevated metabolic activity in (18) F-FDG PET scan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical, neurologic, and psychiatric histories; physical examination findings; laboratory work up results; and pathologic and imaging studies were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The (18) F-FDG-PET images revealed foci of marked FDG uptake in pituitary adenomas of 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pituitary micro- and macro-adenomas may present as hypermetabolic foci on (18) F-FDG PET scan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5327, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Bashir A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Tafti
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Skirboll
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D001928:Brain Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18