Pseudomesotheliomatous lung cancer mimicking mesothelioma on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images: report of 2 cases

Jpn J Radiol. 2013 Aug;31(8):542-5. doi: 10.1007/s11604-013-0210-z. Epub 2013 Apr 26.

Abstract

The authors report two cases of pseudomesotheliomatous lung cancer (PLC) detected by (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan. (18)F-FDG PET/CT clearly revealed the extent of the disease in both cases, a case of adenocarcinoma of the lung and a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Intense (18)F-FDG uptake by the diffusely thickened pleurae and primary lesion was observed in both cases, and increased (18)F-FDG uptake by a pelvic bone metastasis was observed in the case of squamous cell carcinoma. Although PLC is indistinguishable from malignant pleural mesothelioma on (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans, (18)F-FDG PET/CT was helpful in identifying the primary focus of the PLCs and in staging the disease. Diagnostic image interpreters should be familiar with the (18)F-FDG PET/CT findings in PLC.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / surgery
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Mesothelioma / diagnosis*
  • Mesothelioma / surgery
  • Mesothelioma, Malignant
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18