PET/CT appearance of intestinal behcet disease

Abstract

Behcet disease is a multisystem, chronic relapsing vasculitis of unknown etiology. Gastrointestinal involvement occurs in 10% to 40%, usually affecting the terminal ileum and cecum. Radiologic appearances resemble inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, with differential diagnoses including: Crohn disease, carcinoma, lymphoma, typhlitis, tuberculosis, and amebiasis. While computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging appearances have been described, the F-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT appearance of intestinal Behcet disease has not been previously reported. FDG-PET, coregistered with CT, was useful in this case to aid lesion detection, and for determining the extent of disease for treatment planning. The case also highlights the need for awareness of this condition as a rare benign cause for false-positive diagnosis in the assessment for malignancy, with potential avoidance of unnecessary surgery. Copyright © 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.