18 F-FDG PET/CT in Synovial Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is an uncommon, aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
• Synovial involvement by ALCL is exceptionally rare, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A case of synovial ALCL presented with intense fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation.
• The FDG avidity was localized to irregular synovial thickening in the right knee on PET/CT imaging.

Findings:

• Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) revealed significant FDG uptake in the affected synovium.
• Histopathological examination of the synovial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering synovial ALCL in the differential diagnosis of FDG-avid synovial lesions.
• PET/CT imaging can be a valuable tool in identifying and characterizing rare presentations of ALCL.
• Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely management of aggressive lymphomas.