Abstract
PURPOSE: We report benign axillary tracer uptake on F-18 FDG PET scans in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Axillary tracer uptake was observed in 9 patients who were undergoing PET for staging or restaging of malignancy. The uptake was not in a pattern that would be expected for the patients' known malignancies. Additional clinical information was obtained and quantitation of tracer uptake in the upper extremities and axillae was performed. RESULTS: All 9 patients were found to have rheumatoid arthritis. Increased axillary tracer uptake was bilateral in 7 patients and unilateral in 2 patients. In 8 of the patients the wrists were included in the field of view and showed elevated FDG uptake. On follow-up there was no evidence of malignancy in any of the axillary foci. CONCLUSION: Increased axillary tracer uptake on F-18 FDG PET scans can be seen in conjunction with increased uptake in the wrists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and is not necessarily an indication of malignancy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 524-526 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Clinical Nuclear Medicine |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- F-18 FDG
- Pitfalls
- Rheumatoid arthritis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Radiological and Ultrasound Technology