Brown adipose tissue 18F-FDG uptake in pediatric PET/CT imaging

Positron emission tomography (PET) using [F-18]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) fused with CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) has been widely adopted in oncological imaging. However, it is known that benign lesions and other metabolically active tissues, such as brown adipose tissue (BAT), can accumulate 18F-FDG, potentially resulting in false-positive interpretation. Previous studies have reported that 18F-FDG uptake in BAT is more common in children than in adults. We illustrate BAT FDG uptake in various anatomical locations in children and adolescents. We also review what is known about the effects of patient-related physical attributes and environmental temperatures on BAT FDG uptake, and discuss methods used to reduce BAT FDG uptake on 18F-FDG PET.