title: FDG-PET/CT of schwannomas arising in the brachial plexus mimicking lymph node metastasis: report of two cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schwannoma is a tumor that develops on peripheral nerves or spinal roots. Although any part of the body can be affected, axillar and supraclavicular lesions are unusual for schwannoma. We report two cases of schwannoma arising in the brachial plexus, which were detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 75-year-old Japanese woman showed high FDG accumulation in a subclavicular or axillary lesion found by FDG-PET/CT. Axillar-subclavicular lymph node metastasis was suspected and surgical excision was performed. Histological evaluation revealed schwannoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 75-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with suspected primary lung cancer with brain metastases. She showed high FDG uptake at a subclavicular or axillary lesion found by FDG-PET/CT. Surgical excision was performed to arrive at a definitive diagnosis. The mass was located at the trunk of the brachial plexus and was identified as a schwannoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although schwannoma within an axillar or subclavicular lesion is relatively rare, brachial plexus schwannoma should be considered in the diagnosis of masses detected by FDG-PET/CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. ftakaaki@med.gunma-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Reina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asao
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18