Postoperative Spinal 18F-FDG PET Pseudoprogression Mimicking Malignancy

Abstract

Abstract A 60-year-old woman presented with left upper limb weakness. Spinal MRI revealed C2–C3 heterogeneous mass with no hypermetabolic foci on 18F-FDG PET. Total resection was performed, and the pathology showed gliosis. Her limb weakness worsened 3 months after surgery. Spinal MRI revealed long intramedullary mass from medulla oblongata to C5, which showed obvious hypermetabolism under 18F-FDG PET with an SUVmax of 7.11, but 18F-FET PET indicated mild hypermetabolism with an SUVmax of 2.29. Malignancy was suspected, and C2–C4 biopsy was performed. The pathology results confirmed the diagnosis of gliosis, and the postoperative spinal 18F-FDG PET results were considered pseudoprogression.