Richard Joyrich

Retroperitoneal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: Evaluation with serial FDG-PET

Retroperitoneal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), a rare type of neurogenic tumor, was diagnosed in a 14-year-old girl with a history of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Immunochemistry demonstrated spindle cells positive for S-100 protein. The patient had multiple tumor recurrences and she was evaluated with serial F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). A tumor in the right iliac wing showed increased FDG uptake on PET. FDG-PET played an important role in therapy planning and subsequent follow up. This case emphasizes the important role FDG-PET could play in the staging, restaging, and posttherapy follow up of MPNST.

American Burkitt's lymphoma of the head and neck: evaluation with serial FDG-PET.

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is known to be a noninvasive, safe, and useful diagnostic tool for staging, restaging, and follow up of neoplastic disease. This report is concerned with a 32-year-old man with a history of rare American Burkitts lymphoma of the head and neck. The patient was evaluated with FDG-PET for staging and post-therapy follow up. The initial PET showed intense accumulation of FDG in the right side of the face indicating malignancy. A post-therapy follow-up PET showed a slight decrease in the FDG accumulation in the tumor, suggesting partial response to chemotherapy. This case shows that FDG-PET continues to be an invaluable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of lymphomas.

Diaphragmatic and Crural FDG Uptake in Hyperventilating Patients: A Rare Pattern Important to Recognize

The authors describe various patterns of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation in the diaphragm and crura. They present 6 patients in whom incidental diaphragmatic and crural uptake of FDG was observed during positron emission tomography (PET). Hyperventilation is thought to be the potential underlying mechanism of this condition.