Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in a benign oesophageal leiomyoma: a potential pitfall in diagnosis

Positron-emission tomography scans (PET) with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F- FDG) are usually negative in leiomyomas. Two patients underwent a PET that showed an increased (18)F- FDG uptake of the distal oesophagus suggestive for malignancy. Both patients were operated on and histologic examination revealed a benign leiomyoma in both cases. We conclude that oesophageal leiomyomas are a potential cause of a false-positive PET. A high level of caution is needed in these diagnostically challenging cases to prevent unnecessary surgical procedures.