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PET/CT Normal Variants and Pitfalls in Paediatric Disorders
Archi Agrawal1, Gopinath Gnanasegran2, Kanhaiyalal Agrawal3
1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Homi Bhabha National Institute, Navi Mumbai, India.
Seminars in Nuclear Medicine
|July 17, 2026
Summary
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is vital for pediatric cancers but interpretation is challenging. This review covers normal uptake, pitfalls, and strategies for accurate pediatric PET/CT diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
Background:
- 18F-FDG PET/CT is crucial for diagnosing pediatric malignancies and inflammatory conditions.
- Interpreting pediatric PET/CT is complex due to physiological variations, developmental changes, and artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review normal physiological 18F-FDG uptake patterns in pediatric patients.
- To identify common interpretative pitfalls in pediatric PET/CT imaging.
- To provide strategies for enhancing diagnostic confidence and reducing repeat scans.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pediatric 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging.
- Analysis of physiological tracer distribution and common artifacts.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical data.
Main Results:
- Detailed description of age-dependent physiological FDG uptake.
- Identification of specific pitfalls mimicking disease in pediatric populations.
- Strategies for differentiating true pathology from normal variants and artifacts.
Conclusions:
- Accurate interpretation of pediatric 18F-FDG PET/CT requires understanding normal variants and potential pitfalls.
- Careful correlation with CT morphology and clinical history is essential.
- Implementing practical strategies improves diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in pediatric imaging.
