Extensive Tattoos Mimicking Lymphatic Metastasis on Positron Emission Tomography Scan in a Patient With Cervical Cancer.
BACKGROUND
Positron emission tomography (PET) fused with computed tomography (CT) imaging is common in the clinical assessment of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Limitations to the utilization and interpretation of PET-CT scans in patients with cervical cancer have been described, including false-positive findings secondary to tattoo ink.


METHODS
A 32-year-old woman presented with clinical stage 1B1 cervical cancer and extensive tattoos of the lower extremities. Preoperative PET-CT scan identified two ileac lymph nodes with increased fluorine-18-deoxyglucose uptake suspicious for metastatic disease. At the time of surgical resection, bilateral pigmented lymph nodes were identified with histologic examination showing deposition of tattoo ink and no malignant cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should be cognizant of the possible effects of tattoos on PET-CT findings while counseling patients and formulating a treatment program.
Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Department of Anatomic Pathology, The University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California.
Narine
N
Grove
Ma
M
Zheng
Robert E
RE
Bristow
Ramez N
RN
Eskander
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013653:Tattooing; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18