Figure 1. The background liver metabolic activity is SUV_max 2.3. The spleen is diffusely hypermetabolic (SUV_max 5.5), without focal lesions.

Figure 2. Multiple slightly hypermetabolic lymph nodes are present, some of which are slightly enlarged, the largest of which has metabolic activity of SUV_max 2.1.

Figure 3. Diffuse, hypermetabolic activity is again seen in the spleen. There is mild metabolic activity in numerous lymph nodes throughout the body. There is no abnormal metabolic activity in the thymic remnant. There is marked scoliosis of the spine.

Systemic lupus erythematosis is a multisystem disease of autoimmune origin that has a variable, chronic, relapsing and remitting course.

The high metabolic activity seen in lymph nodes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosis has been shown to be associated with both active and quiescent disease. TB however, should be excluded in the appropriate clinical setting, as it has a higher incidence in this group of patients. The high metabolic activity seen in the spleen of this patient may be secondary to early lupus-associated hypersplenism. Thymic uptake has been observed in patients with active disease.