¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and contrast enhanced CT in differential diagnosis between leiomyoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

In a 49 years old woman a large abdominal tumor was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) showed a large tumor with minute calcification and poor contrast enhancement in the left abdominal cavity. The fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) scan showed low ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in the tumor. The SUV max (early image) was 1.90, and that of the delayed image was 2.86. A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was suspected. Tumor resection revealed that it was a leiomyoma originating in the major curvature of the stomach. In conclusion, the findings of low ¹⁸F-FDG uptake on ¹⁸F-FDG PET and poor contrast enhancement on CECT in a gastric submucosal tumor suggested of a gastric leiomyoma rather than GIST.