A 69-year-old man with inoperable stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the lu
ng underwent a radical course of radiotherapy combined with platinum-based
chemotherapy. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging with a dual-head
coincidence gamma camera system (Co-PET) diagnosed radiation pneumonitis 1
month after completion of radiotherapy, when the clinical and radiographic
signs were atypical and more suggestive of carcinomatous lymphangitis. Tre
atment with oral steroids was begun based on FDG scan findings, with prompt
clinical benefit as would be expected for radiation pneumonitis.