Clinical Value of 18F-FDG PET in Paraneoplastic and Pembrolizumab-Associated Myositis

Diagnostics 2026 Open access

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Authors: Chang‐Shen Tseng, Yu-Hung Chen, Ching-Chun Ho, Kuei‐Ying Su, Sung-Chao Chu, Shu-Hsin Liu
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics16040596
Cited by: 1
References: 8

Abstract

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) is widely used to evaluate patients with cancer and to detect various inflammatory processes. Here, we report a rare case of a 53-year-old woman with breast cancer who developed generalized pain, weakness, rash, and edema over the trunk after the first cycle of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. 18F-FDG PET revealed diffusely increased uptake in the muscles without skeletal or visceral metastasis, aiding in the diagnosis of paraneoplastic and pembrolizumab-associated myositis and subsequent monitoring. This case underscores the value of 18F-FDG PET in differentiating myositis from tumor progression and monitoring treatment response in such cases.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis Parkinson's Disease and Spinal Disorders Skin Diseases and Diabetes

Publication details

Journal / source
Diagnostics
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
16
Issue
4
Pages
596–596
Publication date
17 February 2026
Language
EN