Incidental findings in 18F-FDG PET/CT and PET/MR

Abstract

By combining functional and morphological imaging in one single modality, hybrid imaging scanners such as PET/CT and PET/MR have become essential modalities in in whole-body imaging of inflammatory and oncological diseases. As the number of incidental findings is increased due to the simultaneous acquisition of morphological and functional information, it is of utmost important to correctly identify and interpret these findings. Therefore, this chapter provides an overview of the most common incidental findings in 18F-FDG PET/CT and PET/MR. Incidental 18F-FDG uptake is covered in the first part of the chapter, followed by a brief outline of frequent findings in morphological CT that demand special attention in hybrid imaging. At the end of the chapter, potential advantages and pitfalls of 18F-FDG PET/MR imaging in the detection and characterization of incidental findings are discussed.