Physiologic 18F-FDG uptake in the fallopian tubes at mid cycle on PET/CT

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Authors: Mijin Yun ; Arthur Cho ; Jae Hoon Lee ; Yun-Jung Choi ; Jong Doo Lee ; Chun K. Kim

MeSH: Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging/metabolism ; Estrogens/physiology ; Fallopian Tubes/diagnostic imaging* ; Fallopian Tubes/metabolism* ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/pharmacokinetics* ; Genital Neoplasms, Female/diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Menstrual Cycle/physiology* ; Middle Aged ; Ovariectomy ; Pelvis/diagnostic imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacokinetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Young Adult

Keywords: 18F-FDG ; physiologic uptake ; normal variant ; fallopian tube ; ovary ; menstrual cycle

Abstract: We observed bilateral pelvic foci of (18)F-FDG uptake (BiPF) exclusively in females--a finding not previously reported--and assessed the frequency, anatomic localization, and clinical significance of the uptake.

METHODS: On (18)F-FDG PET/CT and coregistered contrast-enhanced CT scans of 159 females (age, 16-81 y), the presence of BiPF and their location were evaluated. The findings were correlated with the age and menstrual history of the patient.

RESULTS: BiPF were seen in 14 (22%) of 63 patients up to 53 y old, predominantly at mid menstrual cycle, and were best coregistered to the fallopian tubes on contrast-enhanced CT. None of 96 patients older than 53 y showed BiPF.

CONCLUSION: Fallopian (18)F-FDG uptake was seen predominantly in premenopausal women at mid menstrual cycle. This finding is in accordance with known cyclic changes of fallopian tubes in response to ovarian hormones and may be the first, to our knowledge, imaging evidence revealing the influence of estrogen on the fallopian tubes.