False‐positive finding of retropharyngeal lymph node recurrence in both fluorine 18FDG PET and MRI in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Issue 4 (28th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsai, Ming‐Chen; Shu, Yu‐Chi; Hsu, Chia‐Chen; Lin, Chih‐Kung; Lee, Jih‐Chin; Chu, Yueng‐Hsiang; Huang, Wen‐Yen
• Other Names: Irish Jonathan sponsoringEditor.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 38:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: E84
• Page End: E86
• Publication Date: 2015-08-28
• Subjects: nasopharyngeal carcinoma -- locoregional recurrence -- retropharyngeal lymph node -- positron emission tomography -- MRI; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.24205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Biopsy of the retropharyngeal node is not routinely accessible. The diagnosis of retropharyngeal lymph node recurrence in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is often based on an imaging study. Methods: We reported a patient with NPC who was incorrectly diagnosed with left retropharyngeal lymph node recurrence by both MRI and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. Results: A woman who was treated for stage IVA NPC 2 years previously was found to have a nodal lesion in the left retropharyngeal space on MRI together with focal fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on PET/CT. Locoregional recurrence was suspected, and surgery was performed. Subsequent pathology results showed reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. Conclusion: Although tissue biopsy for the retropharyngeal node is technically difficult, this case demonstrates that tumor recurrence cannot be diagnosed even based on both positive findings on MRI and PET/CT in patients with NPC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E84–E86, 2016