The role of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with mycosis fungoides

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible role of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) in the management of mycosis fungoides (MF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients (mean age, 40.6 years; median age 41 years; 16 males and 3 females) with risk of secondary lymph node (LN) involvement (those with large cell transformation, tumors, erythroderma, or enlarged LNs on physical examination) were included in the study. All patients underwent PET-CT scan by injecting 0.06 mCi/kg of F18 FDG. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) was recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The (18)F-FDG PET-CT was positive in 15 patients. PET-CT detected local cutaneous disease in 13 cases. The range of SUVmax is 2.8–14.1. Out of 19 patients, hypermetabolic adenopathy is found in 9 patients and visceral involvement in one. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study population is small our findings suggests that (18)F-FDG PET-CT can detect cutaneous and extracutaneous lesions in MF and may guide biopsies especially in patients with risk of secondary LN involvement.