Epstein-Barr virus mimicking lymphoma on FDG-PET/CT.
We report the case of a 17-year-old girl who presented with a several month history of fevers and abdominal pain. After cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) titers returned normal, FDG-PET/CT was obtained due to concern for lymphoma. FDG-PET/CT revealed a pattern of hypermetabolic activity in the adenoids, bilateral cervical lymph nodes, abdominal lymph nodes, and spleen, highly concerning for lymphoma. However, subsequent biopsy of a cervical lymph node revealed lymphadenitis consistent with EBV. This case highlights infection as the most well-known false-positive cause on FDG-PET, and how biopsy is essential to definitively distinguish malignancy from infection.
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. damita-thomas@uiowa.edu
Damita L
DL
Thomas
Sergei
S
Syrbu
Michael M
MM
Graham
D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18