The physiological accumulation of FDG in the muscles in relation to the side of intravenous administration

Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the physiological accumulation of 18 F-FDG in the muscles in relation to the side of intravenous administration. Materials and methods We retrospectively investigated 3,118 18 F-FDG-PET/CT examinations. We evaluated the physiological accumulation of FDG in the muscles of the shoulder and arm relative to its dependence on the side of intravenous administration. Results Six hundred six of the 3,118 examinations (19.4%) showed physiological accumulation of FDG in the teres minor muscle. Accumulation was seen on the side of administration in 486 examinations (80.2%), contralateral to the side of administration in 56 examinations (9.2%), and bilaterally in 64 examinations (10.6%). Five hundred seventy-seven of the 3,118 examinations (18.5%) showed accumulation of FDG in the muscles between the radioulna near the elbow. Accumulation was observed on the side of administration in 432 examinations (74.9%), contralateral to the side of the administration in 71 examinations (12.3%), and bilaterally in 74 examinations (12.8%). Conclusion The present study finds that not only accumulation in the teres minor muscles but also accumulation in the muscles between the radioulna near the elbow occurs significantly more frequently on the side of intravenous administration compared to the contralateral side.