Inflammatory Mimicry: Epididymo-orchitis Masquerading as Malignancy on [18F]-FDG PET/CT Imaging
False positive findings in <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (<sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT) scans can present challenges in the accurate diagnosis and staging of various conditions. We report a case of a 52-year-old male with known adenocarcinoma of the stomach who underwent total gastrectomy and chemotherapy and was referred for <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT to rule out recurrence. <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT showed a large FDG-avid lesion involving the entire right testicle mimicking testicular cancer or lymphoma. Further evaluation with ultrasonography revealed epididymo-orchitis, possibly of granulomatous etiology. Orchitis, an inflammatory condition of the testicles, can cause misleading results in <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT imaging for cancer surveillance. Imagers should cautiously interpret PET/CT findings, considering clinical context, patient history, and additional imaging modalities to distinguish true malignancies from false positives.
Authors
- Khulood Al Riyami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8235-3197)
- Subhash Chand Kheruka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3807-1368)
- Sharjeel Usmani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9274-7571)
- Vipin Velangadi Jayakrishan
- Anjali Jain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2183-9393)
- Rashid Al Sukati
- Hajar Almarzouqi
Publication Details
- Journal
- Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine
- Published
- 2024-11-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnm.ijnm_92_24
- Primary Topic
- Testicular diseases and treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00