Candida esophagitis incidentally detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT in a patient with CNS lymphoma

Clin Case Rep. 2021 May 24;9(5):e04322. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.4322. eCollection 2021 May.

Abstract

Corticosteroids are commonly used in lymphoma patients, and findings in favor of esophageal involvement in 18F-FDG PET-CT should be considered suspicious and definitely be confirmed by biopsy. We describe a 58-year-old lady with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and central nervous system involvement having an increased metabolism in the distal esophagus with 18F-FDG PET/CT, which was consistent with esophageal candidiasis, most probably due to prolonged use of dexamethasone. Esophageal candidiasis can be misdiagnosed as malignancy with a high SUVmax and may lead to difficulties while managing these patients.

Keywords: 18F‐FDG PET/CT; candida; endoscopy; esophagitis; lymphoma.