F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-positive parotid incidentaloma: Prevalence and clinical significance

• Main Authors: Urszula Kiendys, Hamphrey Ham, Wouter Bauters, Caroline Van den Broecke, Philippe Deron, Ingeborg Goethals
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2009-01-01
• Series: Reports in Medical Imaging
• Online Access: http://www.dovepress.com/f-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-fdg-positron-emission-tomography-pet-positive--a2828

Urszula Kiendys1, Hamphrey Ham1, Wouter Bauters2, Caroline Van den Broecke3, Philippe Deron4, Ingeborg Goethals11Department of Nuclear Medicine; 2Department of Radiology; 3Department of Pathology; 4Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, BelgiumAim: To evaluate the prevalence of parotid incidentaloma identified by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET(-CT) scan and the clinical significance associated with this finding.Methods: Records from all patients from January 1, 2005 to August 31, 2007 who had focal intense abnormal F-18 FDG uptake in the parotid glands without a previous history of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck, lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary in the head and neck region or lymphoma, were reviewed.Results: Of the 5476 PET-CT scans performed in as many patients, focal high-grade parotid F-18 FDG uptake was observed in 18 patients (prevalence of 0.3%). Eight patients (44%) underwent surgery. Four of 8 patients (50%) had benign tumors, 2 (25%) had infectious disease and 1 patient each had metastatic disease from a melanoma and a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Conclusion: F-18 FDG PET-positive parotid incidentaloma is rare. The prevalence of a PETpositive parotid incidentaloma in our study was 0.3%. Clear-cut focal high-grade abnormal F-18 FDG uptake was seen in benign tumors, infectious and metastatic disease.Keywords: F-18 FDG PET-CT scanning, incidentaloma, parotid gland, prevalence