Key result
FDG-PET/CT identifies pulmonary artery sarcoma with SUVmax ~9.2 masquerading as pulmonary embolism.
Why the study?
Distinguishing malignant intravascular tumors from thrombus in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism can be challenging and requires advanced imaging techniques.
Case Report (n=1)
No
FDG-PET/CT is a valuable imaging modality for differentiating malignant pulmonary artery sarcoma from pulmonary thromboembolism in atypical presentations.
FDG-PET/CT may distinguish pulmonary artery sarcoma from embolism in atypical cases; leaves open its diagnostic role pending prospective validation.
A 20-year-old woman underwent evaluation for cardiopulmonary symptoms initially attributed to pulmonary embolism of uncertain chronicity. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) revealed an intensely fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid mass within the right pulmonary artery, suggestive of a malignant process. Surgical resection and histopathologic examination confirmed high-grade spindle cell sarcoma with developing pulmonary infarcts. This case highlights the role of PET/CT in distinguishing a malignant intravascular tumour from thrombus in atypical presentations.
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Hsu et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma (n=1). FDG-PET/CT was evaluated. FDG-PET/CT demonstrated an intensely FDG-avid mass (SUVmax 9.2) in the pulmonary artery, leading to the diagnosis of a high-grade spindle cell sarcoma masquerading as pulmonary embolism.
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