We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2011
Imaging description
Talc pleurodesis is performed to obliterate the pleural space to prevent recurrent pleural effusion or spontaneous pneumothorax. All pleural fluid present is drained and talc is insufflated at thoracoscopy or instilled as a slurry by chest tube. Talc is a chemical irritant causing an intense inflammatory response. The leukocytes in this inflammatory response accumulate FDG avidly, outlining the talc-treated pleural. After months, the inflammation often becomes irregular along the pleural surface. This activity on PET lasts for years and possibly over a decade. The intense pleural activity mimics that seen in mesothelioma and pleural metastasis (Figure 79.1). The increased attenuation of talc can best be seen in the pleural reflections on CT [1, 2].
Importance
Incorrect interpretation of increased FDG accumulation along the pleura due to talc pleurodesis could have significant adverse consequences. The intense pleural uptake of FDG on PET/CT secondary to talc pleurodesis can be misinterpreted as recurrent or metastatic malignancy. The pleural activity from talc can obscure the evaluation of pleural disease and mesothelioma [3].
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
