title: Thorax: normal and benign pathologic patterns in FDG-PET/CT imaging.
abstract: This article describes the normal patterns of thoracic (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) biodistribution, and expands on the role of FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) for the evaluation of patients suffering from a spectrum of benign pathologic conditions that affect the chest. The discussion addresses the applications of FDG-PET/CT imaging in a wide variety of chest-related disorders. Familiarity with the normal thoracic biodistribution of FDG, coupled with knowledge of the potential nonmalignant causes of increased FDG uptake in the chest, is essential to minimize the incidence of incorrect interpretation of FDG-PET images in daily clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Joint Program in Nuclear Medicine, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wachsmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: vgerbaudo@partners.org.
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Gerbaudo
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET; Benign pathologic findings; Computed tomography; Infection; Inflammation; Normal biodistribution; Thorax