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PET/CT of Teflon Granulomas

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA 15213

We congratulate Dr. Truong et al. for adding to the existing literature on PET/CT of laryngeal Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, DuPont) granulomas in their article "Teflon Injection for Vocal Cord Paralysis: False-Positive Finding on FDG PET–CT in a Patient with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer" [1]. The findings and discussion by Truong and colleagues are similar to those we published in the June–July 2003 issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology [2] in an article titled "Teflon-Induced Granuloma: A False-Positive Finding with PET Resolved with Combined PET and CT" 4 months before their article was submitted to the AJR and at the same time as some of the articles referenced by Truong et al.

We note that the larynx is not the only organ affected by Teflon granulomas. Similar findings may be seen in the ureters or in the nasopharynx [3], where they also may be mistaken for cancer.

References

Top References

 

1. Truong MT, Erasmus JJ, Macapinlac HA, Podoloff DA. Teflon injection for vocal cord paralysis: false-positive finding on FDG PET–CT in a patient with non–small cell lung cancer. AJR2004; 182:1587 -1589[Free Full Text]
2. Yeretsian RA, Blodgett TM, Branstetter BF, Roberts MM, Meltzer CC. Teflon-induced granuloma: a false-positive finding with PET resolved with combined PET and CT. AJNR2003; 24:1164 -1166[Abstract/Free Full Text]
3. Harrigal CL, Branstetter BF, Snyderman CH, Maroon J. Teflon granuloma in the nasopharynx: a potential false-positive on PET/CT. AJNR (in press)

Reply

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX 77030

We thank Drs. Branstetter and Meltzer for their comments. We agree that it is important to be aware that this finding may occur in other organs besides the larynx and may lead to a false-positive PET interpretation in patients with malignancy. We believe publication of our case report in the AJR is useful in reaching a wider audience because PET/CT is being performed more frequently by radiologists involved in oncologic imaging. We have seen this finding in subsequent cases, and we concur with Drs. Branstetter and Meltzer that awareness of this potential pitfall is essential for preventing misinterpretation.

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This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Branstetter, B. F. Articles by Podoloff, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Branstetter, B. F., IV Articles by Podoloff, D. A. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?