Round Pneumonia Mimicking Pulmonary Malignancy on F-18 FDG PET/CT

Round pneumonia is well known in the pediatric population; however, it is relatively uncommon in adults. The appearance of round pneumonia may be difficult to distinguish from lung carcinoma on anatomic images. This case illustrates a round pneumonia mimicking a pulmonary malignancy on PET/CT. In patients found to have rapid development of a round pulmonary lesion and clinical manifestations of pneumonia, it may be prudent to treat with empiric antibiotics before invasive diagnostic procedures for malignancy.