Intrathoracic splenosis: A rare false-positive cause of somatostatin imaging in characterization of solitary pulmonary nodule

Abstract

Scanning using a somatostatin receptor analog such as 99mTc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC has sensitivity and specificity similar to those of 18FDG-PET, which has high accuracy in the characterization of a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN). We describe a 63-year-old man with well-defined SPN in the left lung on chest x-ray and CT scan. Whole-body scanning and chest SPECT were performed with 99mTc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC for the characterization of SPN. Abnormal focal increased radiotracer uptake in the left hemithorax was detected. In addition, no spleen activity was observed in the anatomical location. Cytopathologic evaluation of SPN revealed splenosis. é 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.