Hibernoma as an incidental finding in the 18F-FDG PET/CT of a patient with melanoma

Melanoma Res. 2020 Aug;30(4):420-422. doi: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000530.

Abstract

Despite being benign tumors, hibernomas show intense fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake, as they are derived from brown fat, which is frequently seen as hypermetabolic fatty areas on PET/CT. We present the case of a patient with cutaneous melanoma, diagnosed with a cervical hibernoma mimicking a metastatic lymph node at fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT. Being aware of the metabolic behavior and radiologic appearance of this entity may prevent reporting false-positive lesions, especially in an oncologic setting.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lipoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lipoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / complications*
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18