Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among females. It is accepted that lymph node involvement with metastatic tumor and the presence of distant metastasis are the most important prognostic factors. Accurate staging is important in determining prognosis and appropriate treatment. Positron emission tomography with computed tomography detects malignancies using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG PET CT) with high accuracy and they contribute to decisions regarding diagnosis, staging, recurrence, and treatment response. Here, we report a case of false positive metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes that were diagnosed by 18F-FDG PET CT in a 40-year-old breast cancer patient who had undergone preoperative evaluation. Right paratracheal, prevascular, aorticopulmonary, precarinal, subcarinal, hilar, and subhilar multiple conglomerated mediastinal lymph nodes were revealed in addition to left breast mass and axillary lymph nodes. Mediastinoscopy was performed with biopsy and pathology was reported as granulomatous lymphadenitis. In conclusion, any abnormal FDG accumulation in unusual lymph nodes must be evaluated carefully and confirmed histopathologically.

Highlights

  • Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females [1]

  • A noninvasive, single-session approach may be desirable. Advanced imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography with computed tomography detects malignancies using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG PET CT) with high accuracy and they contribute to decisions regarding diagnosis, staging, recurrence, and treatment response [6, 7]

  • We report a case of breast cancer patient with intense 18F-FDG uptake in mediastinal lymph nodes related to granulomatous lymphadenitis mimicking metastasis

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Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females [1]. A noninvasive, single-session approach may be desirable Advanced imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography with computed tomography detects malignancies using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG PET CT) with high accuracy and they contribute to decisions regarding diagnosis, staging, recurrence, and treatment response [6, 7]. The addition of 18F-FDG PET CT in the standard workup of breast cancer may lead to the detection of unexpected metastasis in the initial staging as well as the detection of recurrences [8]. We report a case of breast cancer patient with intense 18F-FDG uptake in mediastinal lymph nodes related to granulomatous lymphadenitis mimicking metastasis

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