Extensive FDG Uptake in Accessory Muscles of Respiration in a Patient With Shortness of Breath

A 69-year-old man with a history of COPD and small-cell lung cancer was referred for F-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose (FDG) whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) fusion. The patient had chronic shortness of breath by history, and was noted to have heavy breathing with cough at the time of tracer injection. The PET scan shows marked F-18 FDG uptake in virtually all accessory muscles of inspiration, including the...