(18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan findings in Rosai-Dorfman disease with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration mimicking breast malignancy: a case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Rosai-Dorfman disease, also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, is a rare benign disorder characterized histologically by lymphatic sinus dilatation due to histiocyte proliferation. Rosai-Dorfman disease accompanied by IgG4(+) plasma cell infiltration is an even rarer situation. To the best of our knowledge, no imaging report of fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings of Rosai-Dorfman disease with IgG4(+) plasma cell infiltration has been published, although a series of pathological research has focused on this phenomenon. CASE PRESENTATION: We reviewed the (18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan of a 78-year-old Chinese woman with a solid mass that was found in her right breast during a health checkup. (18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a hypermetabolic nodule in her right breast and slightly heterogeneous increased fluoro-deoxyglucose uptake of the pulmonary nodules, which were histologically proven to be mammary Rosai-Dorfman disease with IgG4(+) plasma cell infiltration and pulmonary amyloidosis, respectively. A literature review was performed to gather information on this rare disease process. CONCLUSIONS: Although distinguishing benign lymphoplasmacytic proliferation from malignancy may be difficult with (18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in light of the pattern and intensity of fluoro-deoxyglucose uptake, our case highlights that whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging not only can display the extent of the disease to help complete staging but also can provide functional information about disease activity to guide biopsy.