To report a case of Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) with false-negative findings on PET/CT imaging and to highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with this condition.
Approach:
Case Presentation: A 65-year-old female presented with symptoms and imaging findings suggestive of AITL, but superficial lymph nodes were FDG-negative on PET/CT despite abnormal morphology.
Diagnostic Work-up: Initial biopsies of hypermetabolic deep lymph nodes were non-diagnostic, leading to a delay in definitive diagnosis, which was ultimately achieved through excisional biopsy of a superficial node.
Key Findings:
PET/CT imaging revealed hypermetabolic activity in deep lymph nodes, while superficial lymph nodes showed no significant FDG uptake despite abnormal morphology.
Definitive diagnosis was achieved via excisional biopsy of a superficial lymph node.
Interpretation:
This case illustrates that AITL can exhibit false-negative findings on PET/CT, highlighting the importance of integrating clinical and laboratory data in the diagnostic process.
Limitations:
The findings are based on a single patient, which may limit the applicability of the results to a broader population.
Relying solely on PET/CT for biopsy guidance may not be adequate in all cases of AITL.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with AITL and the importance of thorough evaluation to avoid delays.
