title: False-positive 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) scans mimicking malignancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) is an imaging modality that is often used to help differentiate benign from malignant pulmonary lesions and it has been shown to be more efficacious than conventional chest computed tomography (CT). However, some benign lesions may also show increased metabolic activity which can lead to false-positive PET findings. We aim to illustrate false positive findings of PET scan that simulate lung cancer in a variety of diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred to Yedikule Chest Diseases and Surgery Teaching and Research Hospital with increased FDG uptake for which histological results were available over a 2-year period (2013-2014) were reviewed. Seven patients with false-positive PET/CT findings were reported in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of lesions showing increased metabolic activity were due to malignant diseases. However, increased 18 F-FDG uptake was also seen in benign lesions such as active pulmonary inflammation or infection, granulomatous processes and fibrotic lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The integration of clinical history, morphologic findings of lesions on the CT component, and metabolic activities of PET/CT scan can help reduce false interpretations. Interventional procedures may be needed for tissue confirmation for differential diagnosis.
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors: Zehra
authors: Z
authors: Yasar
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Acat
authors: Pulmonary Division, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Surgery Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Hilal
authors: H
authors: Onaran
authors: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Minnesota, MN, USA.
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: H Dincer
authors: Pulmonary Division, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Surgery Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Erdogan
authors: E
authors: Cetinkaya
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors: Nurdan
authors: N
authors: A Korkmaz
authors: Akif
authors: A
authors: Ozgül
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000032:analysis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18