Key result
FDG PET/CT reveals a massive hypermetabolic tumor thrombus displaying a suspension bridge sign.
Why the study?
Tumor thrombosis in RCC is uncommon and CT has low sensitivity to differentiate tumor thrombus from bland thrombus, while PET/CT may improve diagnostic accuracy.
Case Report (n=1)
18-FDG PET/CT can be useful for detecting metabolically active tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma, which may present with a 'Suspension Bridge' appearance.
May aid differentiation of tumor from bland thrombus in RCC; leaves open need for prospective validation before routine staging use.
Tumor thrombosis is a relatively uncommon complication of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and its diagnosis has therapeutic and prognostic implication. Computerized tomography (CT) is the primary imaging modality for staging RCC, but it has low sensitivity to differentiate between tumor thrombus and bland or benign thrombus. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) has a limited role in diagnosis and staging of RCC, but its diagnostic accuracy is considerably high for detection of metabolically active tumor thrombus. We are presenting a case of metastatic left-sided RCC with massive hypermetabolic tumor thrombus extending from left kidney to left renal vein and inferior vena cava giving an interesting "Suspension Bridge" appearance on PET/CT images.
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Zaman et al. (2018) conducted a case report in Renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus (n=1). 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) was evaluated on Detection of metabolically active tumor thrombus. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT demonstrated a massive hypermetabolic tumor thrombus extending from the left kidney to the inferior vena cava, creating a 'Suspension Bridge' appearance.
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