Incidental Detection of Asymptomatic Brain Metastases on 18F-fluoride Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and 68Ga DOTANOC Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in a Patient with Concomitant Breast Carcinoma and a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor

Ruth Brown; Phei Shan Chuah; Emmanouil Panagiotidis; Sobhan Vinjamuri

doi:10.4103/wjnm.WJNM_10_17

Incidental Detection of Asymptomatic Brain Metastases on ¹⁸F-fluoride Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and ⁶⁸Ga DOTANOC Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in a Patient with Concomitant Breast Carcinoma and a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor

World J Nucl Med. 2018 Jan-Mar;17(1):65-66. doi: 10.4103/wjnm.WJNM_10_17.

Authors

Ruth Brown¹, Phei Shan Chuah¹, Emmanouil Panagiotidis¹, Sobhan Vinjamuri¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 8XP, UK.

Abstract

A 54-year-old female treated for locally advanced ductal breast carcinoma was also diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. A staging ⁶⁸Ga DOTANOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) demonstrated somatostatin receptor-positive foci within the brain parenchyma. A whole body ¹⁸F-fluoride PET/CT also demonstrated several foci of low-grade tracer uptake in the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed several cerebral and cerebellar metastases. This case highlights the need to be aware of each tumor's metastatic profile and the careful attention required for thoroughly evaluating imaging in the presence of multiple pathologies. Furthermore, such incidental findings can have significant treatment and prognostic implications.

Keywords: 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography; 68Ga DOTANOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography; brain metastases; breast carcinoma; neuroendocrine tumor.

Publication types

Case Reports