PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - MO, ALLEN
AU  - BRODIN, N. PATRIK
AU  - TOMÉ, WOLFGANG A.
AU  - GARG, MADHUR K.
AU  - KABARRITI, RAFI
TI  - COVID-19 Incidentally Detected on PET/CT During Work-up for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
AID  - 10.21873/invivo.11961
DP  - 2020 Jun 01
TA  - In Vivo
PG  - 1681--1684
VI  - 34
IP  - 3 suppl
4099  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/3_suppl/1681.short
4100  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/3_suppl/1681.full
SO  - In Vivo2020 Jun 01; 34
AB  - Aim: To describe the incidental detection of COVID-19 disease on positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in a patient with cancer despite initial negative swab by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Case Report: Clinical and radiographic data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained and evaluated for COVID-19 by the Food and Drug Administration-approved reverse transcription-PCR assays. On radiographic examination, PET/CT was consistent with COVID-19-related pneumonia not seen on prior imaging. Initial nasopharyngeal swab 2 days after PET/CT imaging was negative for COVID-19. Subsequent repeat swab 10 days later was positive for COVID-19, while the patient was febrile on screening assessment. The patient remained COVID-19-positive until 1 month after abnormal PET/CT imaging. Conclusion: PET/CT can be sensitive for early COVID-19 detection, even in the setting of a negative confirmatory PCR test. This highlights the importance of continued patient surveillance and use of appropriate personal protective equipment to minimize COVID-19 transmission.