Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with 18f-fludeoxyglucose uptake in cervical lymph nodes on dual-time-point imaging positron emission tomography/computed tomography mimicking malignant disease

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a benign but self-limiting disorder. However, KFD is often misdiagnosed as a malignant disease. Although 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on dual-time-point imaging (DTPI) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is useful in distinguishing malignant from benign disease, the latter sometimes mimics malignancy on DTPI PET/CT, resulting in a misdiagnosis. Here, we describe the case of a 30-year-old woman who complained of cervical lymphadenopathy. PET showed increased FDG uptake in multiple lymph nodes, with a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 19.0 in the early phase to 21.8 in the late phase. A biopsy was performed, and pathological examination revealed KFD. KFD with FDG uptake in lymph nodes on DTPI PET/CT is rare and difficult to be distinguished from a malignant disease.

Keywords

Cervical lymphadenopathy - dual-time-point imaging - fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography - Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease

Publication History

Article published online:
18 May 2022