Incidental Finding of a Tongue Schwannoma Mimicking Local Recurrence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma on a Systematic Follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2023 Feb 1;48(2):e92-e94. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004461. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

Abstract

Schwannomas are usually benign, rare, and slow-growing nerve sheath tumor composed of Schwann cells. They develop in the head and neck area in approximately 25% to 40% of cases, of which 1% in the oral cavity, where the tongue remains the preferred site. Malignant transformation occurs in approximately 8% to 10% cases. We report a unique case of a histologically proven FDG-avid schwannoma of the left mobile portion of the tongue, showing an 18F-FDG avidity on PET/CT, which was a false-positive result for local recurrence in a patient followed for squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / diagnostic imaging
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Neurilemmoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurilemmoma* / pathology
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Tongue / pathology

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18