Pseudomesotheliomatous lung cancer mimicking mesothelioma on 18F-FDG PET/CT images: report of 2 cases

The authors report two cases of pseudomesotheliomatous lung cancer (PLC) detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT scan. 18F-FDG PET/CT clearly revealed the extent of the disease in both cases, a case of adenocarcinoma of the lung and a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Intense 18F-FDG uptake by the diffusely thickened pleurae and primary lesion was observed in both cases, and increased 18F-FDG uptake by a pelvic bone metastasis was observed in the case of squamous cell carcinoma. Although PLC is indistinguishable from malignant pleural mesothelioma on 18F-FDG PET/CT scans, 18F-FDG PET/CT was helpful in identifying the primary focus of the PLCs and in staging the disease. Diagnostic image interpreters should be familiar with the 18F-FDG PET/CT findings in PLC.