18F-FDG PET/CT in Hodgkin Lymphoma With Unsuspected COVID-19

Clin Nucl Med. 2020 Aug;45(8):652-653. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003143.

Abstract

We present an asymptomatic 70-year-old man referred for an F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging of a Hodgkin lymphoma. F-FDG PET/CT showed bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy (stage II). Incidentally, the CT demonstrated bilateral ground-glass opacities with low-grade F-FDG activity. CT findings were suspicious for COVID-19 pneumonitis. The COVID-19 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) examination result was negative. Given the high clinical suspicion for COVID-19, the patient was isolated and repeat RT-PCR was positive at 72 hours. RT-PCR may be falsely negative in early COVID-19 disease, even with positive CT findings.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18