USEFULNESS OF FDG-PET IN DIAGNOSING PRIMARY LYMPHOMA OF THE LIVER

This case report shows for the first time the usefulness of positron e mission tomography (PET) with 2-[F-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in the diagnosis of primary non Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver. Resul ts of FDG-PET, which in contrast to other imaging techniques offers th e advantage of screening the whole body, demonstrated a high glycolyti c activity of a solitary mass in the liver with central necrosis (loss of glycolytic activity), but no spread of lymphoma to the body. These results were confirmed by ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic r esonance imaging and were biopsy proven. From our findings we conclude that in patients with liver masses with high uptake of FDG, lack of l iver dysfunction and absence of signs indicating other malignancies, a primary lymphoma of the liver should be considered as a possible diag nosis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.