Conversion from FDG-negative to -positive during follow-up in a rare case of pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma

Clin Nucl Med. 2012 Jul;37(7):679-81. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e31823ea953.

Abstract

A female patient aged 75 years presented with an incidental pulmonary nodule without FDG uptake when undergoing FDG PET/CT. Without obtaining histologic diagnosis, the follow-up FDG PET/CT 2 years later demonstrated intense FDG avidity within previously FDG-negative tumor. After surgery, the pathologic diagnosis is pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC). LELCs are unique because of histologic similarities with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma and with a better prognosis as compared with other lung malignancies. However, the expression of FDG uptake in LELC has never been discussed. Herein, we describe a pulmonary LELC manifesting as a slowly growing tumor displaying conversion from FDG-negative to -positive avidity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lymphoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18