Granulomatous Lymphangitis Masquerading as Relapsed Hodgkin Disease on FDG PET/CT

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman with Hodgkin lymphoma was referred for staging fludeoxyglucose (18F) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) that showed widespread intensely FDG-avid disease in multiple nodal stations above the diaphragm and spleen and extranodal involvement in the lungs and vertebral bodies. She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Progress FDG PET/CT 5 months later showed significant metabolic and anatomic response. Repeat FDG PET/CT 1 month later was highly suspicious of recurrent disseminated FDG-avid lymphoma in multiple nodal stations above and below the diaphragm, spleen, multiple bones, and lungs. Subsequent bone marrow biopsy showed sarcoid-like granulomatous inflammation with no evidence of lymphoma. The patient was clinically well and no active treatment was instituted. Subsequent FDG PET/CT 2 months later showed complete resolution of metabolic activity.