Unilateral forearm muscle 18F-FDG uptake after using a smartphone

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is crucial for staging malignant neoplasms.
• Accurate interpretation relies on understanding physiological uptake patterns.
• Common physiological uptake occurs in head and neck muscles (e.g., masticator, ocular) and can be mitigated by pre-exam precautions.

Observation:

• Preventive measures like avoiding physical activity can mitigate some artifacts.
• Increased smartphone use introduces novel uptake artifacts.
• A unilateral hypermetabolism in forearm muscles is a newly observed artifact.

Findings:

• Physiological uptake in head and neck muscles is well-documented.
• Smartphone usage during PET scans leads to forearm muscle hypermetabolism.
• This artifact can mimic pathological uptake, complicating diagnosis.

Implications:

• Awareness of smartphone-induced artifacts is vital for correct PET image interpretation.
• Educating patients on avoiding smartphone use during scans is recommended.
• Further research may explore the extent and clinical significance of this artifact.