Herpes zoster reactivation during head and neck cancer therapy: interpreting post-treatment positron emission tomography/CT imaging.
Krishna BommakantiCharles S CoffeyPublished in: BMJ case reports (2021)
The risk of herpes zoster reactivation in patients undergoing cancer treatment is significant, though this phenomenon has rarely been reported in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) population. We aim to report the potential for infection to lead to false-positive findings on positron emission tomography/CT in these patients. This case highlights the potential for herpes zoster reactivation to result in false-positive findings on post-treatment imaging following chemoradiation for HNSCC. It is therefore imperative for providers to be aware of this when evaluating patients during and after treatment for HNSCC.
Keyphrases
- positron emission tomography
- computed tomography
- end stage renal disease
- chronic kidney disease
- patients undergoing
- newly diagnosed
- high resolution
- ejection fraction
- pet ct
- prognostic factors
- pet imaging
- magnetic resonance imaging
- contrast enhanced
- risk assessment
- photodynamic therapy
- rectal cancer
- climate change
- locally advanced