ABSTRACT
Objective:To summarize the characteristics of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging in adult patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Methods:18F-FDG PET/CT imaging data and clinical data of 5 IM patients (all males, age 18-77 years) detected in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from July 2015 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Distribution of lymphatic tissues in the lesions (lymph nodes, tonsils, bone marrow, liver, etc) and 18F-FDG radioactive uptake in the lesions were analyzed semiquantitatively. Results:In 5 patients with IM, the volume of superficial lymph nodes (mainly distributed in the neck, axilla, and groin lymph nodes) and deep lymph nodes (mainly distributed in the mediastinum, hilum of lung, abdominal cavity and posterior abdominal cavity) increased to varying degrees, as well as the FDG uptake. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) of superficial lymph nodes were 1.2-7.3, and those of deep lymph nodes were 3.5-9.7. All patients showed diffuse uptake of FDG in bone marrow, with SUV max of 3.0-7.9. All patients had pharyngeal tonsillar enlargement and FDG uptake increasing, with SUV max of 1.7-13.4. Compared with patients with lymphoma, IM patients had more organ involvement and relatively lower radioactive uptake. Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT imaging features of IM can help the diagnosis of IM.