Scientific publications
Syphilis Mimicking Malignant Pulmonary Tumor With Nodal and Bone Metastasis on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Angela Bronte Viedma 1 , Sandra Menendez-Sanchez 1 , Juan Fernando Bastidas Tamayo 1 , Héctor Lajusticia Andrés 2 , Maria José García-Velloso 1
Abstract
A 52-year-old man suffering left pleuritic pain underwent a chest CT showing a subpleural pulmonary nodule in the left upper lobe.
Because of the possibility of a lung tumor, he was referred for 18F-FDG PET/CT. The scan revealed FDG uptake in the pulmonary nodule, in an upper right paratracheal lymph node, and at 4 destructive bone lesions.
Pathologic examination after pulmonary biopsy manifested only the presence of inflammatory cells. Further clinical history research proved risky sexual behavior with a positive syphilis serology test. A follow-up PET/CT 7 months after penicillin therapy showed a complete metabolic response of all the lesions.
CITATION Clin Nucl Med. 2023 Sep 19. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004836