Multi-site abdominal tuberculosis mimics malignancy on 18F-FDG PET/CT: report of three cases.

Abstract

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) imaging, an established procedure for evaluation of malignancy, shows an increased 18F-FDG uptake in inflammatory conditions. We present three patients with abdominal pain and weight loss. Conventional imaging studies indicated that abdominal neoplasm and 18F-FDG PET/CT for assessment of malignancy showed multiple lesions with intense 18F-FDG uptake in abdomen of the three cases. However, the three patients were finally diagnosed with multi-site abdominal tuberculosis (TB). Of them, two were diagnosed with TB by pathology, one was diagnosed with TB clinically. They recovered after anti-TB therapy. Few reports on accumulation of 18F-FDG in abdominal TB are available in the literature. A high index of suspicion is necessary to achieve an early diagnosis and a better outcome of the disease.

• Authors: Geng Tian, Yong Xiao, Bin Chen, Hong Guan, Qun-Yi Deng
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 16 Issue 33 Pg. 4237-42 (Sep 07 2010) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20806445 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Abdominal Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging)
• Adult
• Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome
• Tuberculosis (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)