Early detection of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma by 18FDG-PET/CT with diffuse FDG uptake in the lung without respiratory symptoms or chest CT abnormalities

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare and aggressive subtype of systemic extranodal non-Hodgkin diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We report a rare case of IVLBCL who showed diffuse 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the lung in FDG-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) without respiratory symptoms or chest CT abnormalities. Serum biochemical studies showed a raised level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), which suggested the presence of malignant lymphoma strongly. A non-contrast CT showed no abnormalities in the lung fields, no lymphadenopathy was found. FDG-PET/CT revealed diffuse FDG uptake in the both lungs and in spleen as well as multiple hot spots in the liver. Under the suspicion of IVLBCL especially by the diffuse FDG uptake in the lung, a random skin biopsy was performed from three regions, the left forearm, right abdomen and left thigh in which there had been no evidence of FDG uptake. The definite diagnosis of IVLBCL was made based on the pathological analysis of the specimen from the left thigh. She achieved complete remission (CR) after combined chemoimmunotherapy. FDG-PET/CT was useful for the early detection of IVLBCL even without respiratory symptoms or any abnormal findings by chest CT.