Intense 18F-FDG activity in aortoiliac bypass graft mimicking infection: A case report.

RATIONALE: F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has the potential to become an important imaging tool for the diagnosis of suspected aortoiliac bypass graft infection (AGI).

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 76-year-old man presented with incidental findings of intense F-FDG activity in previous operation site of aortobiiliac bypass graft in the initial staging of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

DIAGNOSES: Based on F-FDG PET/CT examination, preliminary differential diagnosis was AGI.

INTERVENTIONS: We performed laboratory tests and Galliun-citrate (Ga) single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT).

OUTCOMES: He had no constitutional symptoms and abnormal laboratory test results suggesting AGI. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed no abnormal findings. Also, Ga planar scintigraphy and SPECT/CT imaging of the abdomen and pelvis failed to show abnormal Ga uptake in the same site of aortobiiliac bypass graft with F-FDG uptake.

LESSONS: We present a case with postoperative inflammatory aortobiiliac bypass graft which was misdiagnosed as AGI based on intense F-FDG activity seen at PET/CT imaging.