Diffuse Intense Pleural FDG Uptake with Smooth Thickening: A MARKER of Tuberculosis in Isolated Pleural Effusion

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a great mimicker of malignancy and both can present with isolated pleural effusion. Herein we present the characteristic PET/CT features of tuberculosis pleural effusion. Careful attention to these findings could direct the management towards tuberculosis in such scenarios, where demonstration of Acid Fast Bacilli and necrotizing granulomas would be difficult due to absence of nodal disease and/or technically challenging pleural biopsy