Unilateral Parotid Gland Involvement of Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Demonstrated by 18F-FDG PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2025 May 1;50(5):468-469. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000005755. Epub 2025 Mar 10.

Abstract

The involvement of the parotid gland by acute lymphoblastic leukemia in extramedullary relapse is considered a rare occurrence. A 5-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented with peripheral facial paralysis, and her symptoms remained unrelieved despite symptomatic treatment. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed hypermetabolic activity not only in the left parotid gland but also in multiple cervical lymph nodes, confirming a relapse of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Keywords: PET/CT; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; parotid gland; relapse.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Parotid Gland* / diagnostic imaging
  • Parotid Gland* / pathology
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / pathology
  • Recurrence

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18