“Quasi-Symmetric” FDG Avidity of Bilateral Salivary Glands in Mikulicz Disease Yielding False-Positive Staging in Lung Cancer

• DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0b013e31826c0c35
• Publication Date: 2012-09-20T07:47:58Z
• Authors: Li-Fan Lin; Daniel HY Shen; Wen-Chiuan Tsai; Cheng-Han Hou; Cheng-Yi Cheng; Ching-Yuan Chen
• Keywords: Avidity; Fluorodeoxyglucose; Salivary gland cancer

A 77-year-old man with lung cancer underwent fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Cervical FDG uptake of variable intensity was detected corresponding to enlarged masses in the bilateral parotid and left submandibular regions. We suspected metastases from primary or coexisting salivary gland neoplasms. Histopathological examination FDG-avid mass revealed Mikulicz disease, an uncommon autoimmune disease involving glands. present this case "quasi-symmetric" avidity major believe that can lead erroneous interpretation tumor staging using PET.