Positron emission tomography in a premenopausal asymptomatic woman: a case report of increased ovarian uptake in a benign condition.

Positron emission tomography (PET) use is increasing; however, optimal utilization in gynecologic oncology remains unclear. PET is expensive, has limited anatomic detail, and it may be difficult to differentiate benign ovarian lesions from malignant lesions when PET is used. A 43-year-old female volunteer's PET scan revealed increased uptake in the left ovary. A subsequent extensive evaluation was entirely normal; however, the patient pursued excision with only a corpus luteum on final pathology. There is a dearth of information regarding PET scan ovarian abnormalities in asymptomatic premenopausal patients, as much of the literature focuses on women with a known ovarian lesion or cancer. Our case represents an increasingly common situation: evaluation and management of an asymptomatic woman with a positive PET scan. As more clinicians encounter PET scan abnormalities, it is imperative that the medical literature documents the limitations of this technology, especially in premenopausal women.