18[F] FDG-PET/CT is a useful molecular marker in evaluating thymoma aggressiveness.

• Main Authors: Ahmad Saad, Fathinul Fikri, Nordin, Abdul Jalil, Mohtarrudin, Norhafizah, Hemalata, Lau, W. F. Eddie
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Elsevier 2011
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/24408/1/18%20%28F%29%20FDG.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/24408/
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

A 54 year-old-man presented with chest fullness and difficulty of breathing for 3 months. CT thorax revealed a heterogeneously enhancing mediastinal mass for which CT-guided biopsy results were initially inconclusive. The patient underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT study for further metabolic characterisation and staging of the disease. 18F-FDG -PET/CT showed heterogeneous FDG-avid mediastinal mass with adjoining multiple FDG-avid hilar lymph nodes, pulmonary and bone metastasis. Final diagnosis of malignant thymoma was confirmed after a successful PET/CT-guided needle biopsy.