Pitfalls and Misinterpretations of Cardiac Findings on PET/CT Imaging: A Careful Look at the Heart in Oncology Patients

Sonia L. Betancourt Cuellar, Diana Palacio, Marcelo F. Benveniste, Brett W. Carter, Gregory Gladish

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) with 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) has been established as an effective modality for evaluation of cancer. Interpretations of patterns of physiologic 18 F-FDG uptake by the heart is particularly difficult given the wide normal variations of 18 F-FDG metabolic activity observed. Atypical patterns of focal or diffuse physiologic cardiac 18 F-FDG uptake and post-therapeutic effects after radiation therapy, systemic diseases, or cardiomyopathy may also be confused with malignant disease on 18 F-FDG PET/CT. In this article, we review the variations of normal cardiac 18 F-FDG uptake observed in oncology patients and the appearances of other patterns of pathologic metabolic activity, related or not related to the malignancy being investigated, that may lead to false-negative and false-positive results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)172-183
Number of pages12
JournalCurrent Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Volume48
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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