Radiation-Induced Esophagitis Masquerading as Disease Progression in Case of Esophageal Carcinoma: A Diagnostic Dilemma Solved on Follow-up FDG PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2015 Jul;40(7):e380-1. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000000736.

Abstract

Radiation esophagitis is one of the commonest complications of the radiotherapy involving esophagus. It is characterized by diffuse radiotracer uptake in the esophagus on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. Thus, it can be often confused with the esophageal malignancy. We present the sequential ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images of a 45-year-old woman with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who developed radiation esophagitis after chemoradiotherapy. It was confused with the progression of the disease, and the dilemma was resolved by the follow-up PET/CT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Esophagitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Esophagitis / etiology
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18