Key result
Staging FDG PET-CT detects an asymptomatic pheochromocytoma in a patient with primary myxoid liposarcoma.
Why the study?
FDG PET-CT scans in soft-tissue sarcomas can detect FDG avid lesions that may represent either metastases or rare benign tumors such as pheochromocytoma, complicating interpretation.
Case Report (n=1)
FDG avid adrenal lesions detected during soft-tissue sarcoma staging may represent coexistent benign tumors such as pheochromocytoma rather than metastasis.
FDG-avid adrenal lesions in sarcoma staging may represent pheochromocytoma; extends differential but leaves open need for validation.
Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors and arise either from soft tissue or from bone. Soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) initially metastasize to the lungs. Metastases to extrapulmonary sites such as liver, brain, and soft tissue distant from primary tumor usually develop later. However, cases with isolated adrenal metastasis without disseminated disease have been reported in literature. We present a case of primary myxoid liposarcoma of the lower limb, in which staging 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) scan detected a suspicious FDG avid adrenal lesion which eventually on resection was diagnosed as asymptomatic pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas have been reported to demonstrate FDG uptake mimicking metastasis. Hence, while interpreting FDG PET-CT scans in the context of STSs, both the extrapulmonary metastatic potential of aggressive histological subtypes of sarcoma and rare possibility of FDG avid coexistent benign tumor should be taken into consideration.
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Shivdasani et al. (2017) conducted a case report in Myxoid liposarcoma and asymptomatic pheochromocytoma (n=1). 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) was evaluated on Detection of FDG avid adrenal lesion. Staging 18-F FDG PET-CT in a patient with primary myxoid liposarcoma detected a suspicious FDG avid adrenal lesion that was subsequently resected and diagnosed as an asymptomatic pheochromocytoma.
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