FDG PET imaging of acute cholecystitis

Recent reports have shown that FDG PET imaging may be useful in distinguishing malignant from benign gallbladder lesions based on the intensity of radiotracer uptake. However, inflammatory and infectious gallbladder lesions may mimic a neoplastic process and are the most common cause of a false-positive FDG PET study. In the current case, the PET findings of ring-like radiotracer uptake in a patient diagnosed with acute cholecystitis are consistent with the few previously reported FDG PET findings of cholecystitis and suggest that the ringed appearance may be an additional clue aiding in the differentiation of cholecystitis from gallbladder carcinoma. Copyright © 2005 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.