Precautions, pitfalls and artifacts in thoracic PET/CT

PET/CT with F-18-FDG is a test widely used in the evaluation of chest diseases as diverse as oncology indications and in particular the evaluation of pulmonary nodules, mediastinal disorders of the chest wall, breast lesions or even heart diseases including those of infectious valves. Despite the many precautions taken to the successful completion of the examination, a caution of the interpretation of the exam is required, given the pitfalls and artifacts inherent to the technique, respiratory and cardiac movements, the misrepresentation lesions (false positives of false negatives) or altered by the treatment. Their knowledge can minimize their impact on the interpretations and avoid the use of supplements investigations, sometimes invasive, or worse, administering a noxious or inappropriate treatment. The purpose of this paper is to describe the pitfalls and artifacts of PET/CT with F-18-FDG commonly found in the thoracic region but also to expose the various precautions that can help the conduct of the exam, the interpretation and even the optimal patient management. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.