Key result
Prominent FDG uptake involving all four cardiac chambers on PET/CT was observed in a patient and likely related to heart strain caused by acute pulmonary embolism.
Case Report (n=1)
Prominent 4-chamber FDG uptake on PET/CT may indicate heart strain caused by acute pulmonary embolism.
May indicate acute PE-related strain in select cases; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation.
A 57-year-old-male presented for whole-body PET with CT for restaging of lung cancer. Besides revealing postradiation changes, we noticed an unusual pattern of FDG uptake in the myocardium, with prominent metabolic uptake involving 4 chambers of the heart. Later that day, the patient was referred to the emergency department for increased heart rate, but otherwise asymptomatic. CT angiography was performed, which showed scattered filling defects in bilateral pulmonary arteries consistent with pulmonary embolism. The finding of prominent FDG uptake involving all cardiac chambers in this patient is likely related to heart strain caused by acute pulmonary embolism.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Franceschi et al. (2012) conducted a case report in Lung cancer and acute pulmonary embolism (n=1). Whole-body PET with CT was evaluated on FDG uptake in the myocardium involving 4 chambers of the heart. Prominent FDG uptake involving all four cardiac chambers on PET/CT was observed in a patient and likely related to heart strain caused by acute pulmonary embolism.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: