Abstract:
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among females. It is accepted that lymph node involvement with metastatic
tumor and the presence of distant metastasis are the most important prognostic factors. Accurate staging is important in
determining prognosis and appropriate treatment. Positron emission tomography with computed tomography detects malignancies
using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG PET CT) with high accuracy and they contribute to decisions regarding
diagnosis, staging, recurrence, and treatment response. Here, we report a case of false positive metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes
that were diagnosed by 18F-FDG PET CT in a 40-year-old breast cancer patient who had undergone preoperative evaluation.
Right paratracheal, prevascular, aorticopulmonary, precarinal, subcarinal, hilar, and subhilar multiple conglomerated mediastinal
lymph nodes were revealed in addition to left breast mass and axillary lymph nodes. Mediastinoscopy was performed with biopsy
and pathology was reported as granulomatous lymphadenitis. In conclusion, any abnormal FDG accumulation in unusual lymph
nodes must be evaluated carefully and confirmed histopathologically.
