F-18-FDG PET/CT findings of paraneoplastic dermatoses

Paraneoplastic dermatoses (PD) are defined as nonspecific skin disorders which are associated with internal neoplasms, but without direct association to primary tumors or metastases. Recognition of PD and the following surveillance may lead to the diagnosis of internal malignant neoplasms including early stage ones. Accurate imaging examinations in the following searching is essential in identifying the underlying neoplasms. Since whole-body 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (F-18-FDG)-positron emission (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has been widely used in early diagnosis, staging of various malignant tumors, it may play a role for detection of underlying or occult malignant neoplasms in patients with PD. However, to date, only a few reports of FDG PET/CT findings of the associated neoplasms in PD patients have been cited in the literature. The present paper shows the cases of FDG-avid associated neoplasms in patients with PD in our 10-year experience in our institute, and reviews the well-known and/or relatively common PD and their associated neoplasms, and the previously reported cases of FDG-avid associated neoplasms in these patients.