Purpose: To assess the characteristics of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in persisting anastomotic sinus and fistula following rectal cancer surgery.
Methods: Eight patients with anastomotic sinus and fistula were retrospectively studied.
Results: A total of 13 anastomotic sinuses (n=11) and fistulas (n=2) were observed. Sixteen FDG-positron emission tomography/computed tomography studies for 13 lesions performed and 26 uptake patterns were evaluated. Twenty-one lesions were found to have diffuse increased uptake, whereas four lesions had focal uptake. There was only one lesion without FDG uptake.
Conclusions: Increased FDG uptake is frequently observed in anastomotic sinus and fistula, which should be known to avoid making wrong diagnosis.
Keywords: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose; Anastomotic leakage; Positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Presacral sinus; Rectal cancer.
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