Acute Findings on FDG PET/CT: Key Imaging Features and How to Differentiate Them from Malignancy

Yan Li; Spencer Behr

doi:10.1007/s40134-020-00367-x

Acute Findings on FDG PET/CT: Key Imaging Features and How to Differentiate Them from Malignancy

Curr Radiol Rep. 2020;8(11):22. doi: 10.1007/s40134-020-00367-x. Epub 2020 Sep 12.

Authors

Yan Li¹, Spencer Behr¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA.

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review acute findings commonly encountered during routine clinical FDG PET/CT studies and present key imaging features to differentiate them from malignant counterparts.

Recent findings: FDG PET/CT is extensively used in routine clinical practice for oncology patients. Incidental acute findings in patients undergoing FDG PET/CT are increasingly common, and awareness of these findings and their mimics are important in delivering a clinically relevant and accurate radiological report for directing further management.

Summary: This article will review examples of common acute findings encountered during routine FDG PET/CT scans, compare them against examples of FDG-avid malignancy that can mimic these findings and emphasize key imaging findings to differentiate acute findings from their malignant mimics.

Keywords: FDG; Infection; Inflammation; Malignancy; Mimics; PET/CT.

Publication types

Review