Persistent FDG uptake around an inguinal mesh prosthesis 25 years after implantation

The authors describe the case of a 57-year-old woman who underwent a FDG PET/CT study for staging a left pulmonary apical mass. There was markedly increased metabolic activity in the pulmonary lesion and unexpectedly in the umbilical region. The patient reported a history of hernia repair occurring 25 years before the PET study with implantation of an inguinal mesh prosthesis and was totally free of abdominal pain or inflammatory signs. FDG uptake can be seen in both malignant and inflammatory lesions and knowledge of long-term FDG uptake associated with granulomatous reaction can be useful for clinical interpretation of PET/CT studies. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.