Acute toxoplasmosis mimicking melanoma metastases: review of conditions causing false-positive results on (18)F-FDG PET/CT

Dermatology. 2012;225(4):349-53. doi: 10.1159/000346333. Epub 2013 Feb 9.

Abstract

Invasive malignant melanoma is the most common fatal form of skin cancer. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography demonstrates a very high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of melanoma metastases. Here, we report an unusual case of toxoplasma lymphadenitis in a male adult patient mimicking a malignant cervical lymphadenopathy. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is usually asymptomatic in immunocompetent hosts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Lymphadenitis / blood
  • Lymphadenitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Melanoma / blood
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Skin Neoplasms / blood
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Toxoplasmosis / blood
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18