Teflon Granuloma in the Nasopharynx: A Potentially False-Positive PET/CT Finding
Chivonne Harrigala,
Barton F. Branstetter, IVa,b,
Carl H. Snydermanb and
Joseph Maroonc
a Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
b Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
c Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
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FIG 1. Pharyngeal Teflon granuloma (case 1).
A, Sagittal PET scan shows a large area of dramatically increased FDG uptake in the posterior pharynx (arrow).
B, Axial unenhanced CT scan (performed 2 days before combined PET/CT) shows heterogeneously increased attenuation throughout the posterior pharyngeal mass. The clivus is eroded (arrow), and surrounding soft tissues are infiltrated. On a contrast-enhanced CT scan, the increased attenuation might be mistaken for enhancement.
C, Fused PET/CT scan obtained at a slightly lower level than that of B demonstrates that the FDG uptake corresponds to the erosive mass.
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FIG 2. Presumed pharyngeal Teflon granuloma (case 2).
A, Contrast-enhanced axial CT scan demonstrates an ill-defined mass in the right side of the posterior pharynx (arrows). The mass infiltrates the surrounding soft tissues, particularly the left longus coli muscle.
B, Sagittal reconstruction of the same CT scan clarifies the location of the mass (arrows) and is useful for comparison to sagittal PET findings (C).
C, Sagittal PET scan demonstrates marked FDG uptake in the mass.
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FIG 3. MR imaging of Teflon granuloma (case 2).
A, Precontrast sagittal T1-weighted image does not demonstrate the pharyngeal mass well.
B, Postcontrast sagittal T1-weighted image demonstrates weak, ill-defined enhancement in the posterior pharyngeal wall (arrows).
C, T2-weighted axial image demonstrates intermediate signal intensity within the mass (arrow), lower than expected for tumor. The patient’s palatal drop prosthesis (asterisk [*]) causes minimal artifact.
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