Incidental detection of bilateral elastofibroma dorsi with F-18 FDG PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2005 Oct;30(10):700-1. doi: 10.1097/01.rlu.0000178786.99368.1d.

Abstract

An 83-year-old asymptomatic woman with a history of breast cancer treated with resection, radiation, and chemotherapy was studied with F-18 FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging purposes. The whole-body F-18 FDG PET/CT images revealed poorly circumscribed, bilateral soft tissue masses between the inferior tips of the scapulae and chest wall with a moderate degree of F-18 FDG accumulation. The maximum standardized uptake values were 2.8 for both the left and right lesions. A biopsy or further imaging was not recommended because the lesions were asymptomatic, bilateral, and their imaging features were diagnostic for elastofibroma dorsi. Comparison to a CT scan performed 2 years earlier demonstrated stability of the lesions, further supporting our diagnosis. Recognition of this moderately metabolic benign entity in oncologic patients will avoid unnecessary medical, radiologic, or surgical interventions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fibroma / diagnosis*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Subtraction Technique
  • Thoracic Wall / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18