Coincidental presentations of ganglioneuroma and atypical perforated appendicitis detected by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Clin Nucl Med. 2009;34:719-721. [PMID: 19893413 DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0b013e3181b53830]

Parapharyngeal Ganglioneuroma Detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT in a Patient With Hodgkin Lymphoma

A 38-year-old woman with anterior mediastinal Hodgkin lymphoma underwent F-FDG PET/CT, revealing abnormal uptake at the left retrostyloid parapharyngeal space. After chemotherapy, follow-up PET/CT showed regression of previously avid lesions but not the left retropharyngeal mass. Subsequent MRI revealed findings suggestive of neurogenic tumor. Transoral biopsy revealed ganglioneuroma, which is uncommon in the parapharyngeal space, although usually of benign nature. This case therefore highlights the importance of PET/CT in both initial diagnostic screening for tumor development and posttreatment evaluation of ambiguous lesions.

Appendicitis with psoas abscess successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery

Although acute appendicitis is a common disease, retroperitoneal abscesses are rarely observed. Here, we report a case consisting of a psoas abscess and cutaneous fistula caused by appendicitis. The patient was a 56-year-old male who was introduced to our institution due to an intractable right psoas abscess. Imaging tests had been performed over the previous 3 years; however, clinicians could not find the origin of the abscess and failed to resolve the problem. A successful operation was performed via a laparoscopic approach, and 17 mo have passed without recurrence. The advantage of laparoscopic surgery is well understood in cases of appendicitis with abscesses. However, the indication for laparoscopic approach is not clear for retroperitoneal abscesses. From our experience, we can conclude that appendicitis with retroperitoneal abscesses can be managed and treated using a laparoscopic approach.

Intussusception incidentally detected by FDG-PET/CT in a pediatric lymphoma patient

An FDG-PET/CT scan was performed in a 14-year-old boy for the purpose of staging known lymphoma. The PET images identified the primary bowel lymphoma while the corresponding CT portion of the study found the intussusception caused by the lymphoma. The incidental finding of intussusception changed the management regime of the patient. Careful evaluation of both PET and CT images of the PET/CT is essential in providing the best patient care.