AUTHOR=Muzaffar Razi , Fesler Mark , Osman Medhat M.

TITLE=Active Shingles Infection as Detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2013.00103

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2013.00103

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>We present the case of a 56-year-old male with a history of recurrent follicular lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy with multiple <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET-CT studies at an outside facility. He developed a painful erythematous, pruritic rash in the left back requiring a visit to the emergency room. He was diagnosed and treated for <italic>Varicella zoster</italic> infection. He then presented to our imaging center 2 months later for a follow up <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET/CT study. Imaging demonstrated a cutaneous band of increased metabolic activity in the upper back following a dermatomal distribution. This was confirmed to be in the same area as the treated <italic>Varicella zoster</italic> eruption. A subsequent follow up <sup>18</sup>F-FDG PET-CT scan 4 months later to confirm tumor resolution demonstrated the abnormal band of uptake in the back had resolved. This case illustrates the significance of being aware of this entity and to distinguish it from metastasis, especially in patients with a known history of malignancy.</p>