Incidental Detection of a Small Cell Lung Cancer by 18F-Choline PET/CT Performed for Recurrent Hyperparathyroidism After Parathyroidectomy

Clin Nucl Med. 2021 Feb 1;46(2):e109-e111. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003246.

Abstract

We report the case of a 64-year-old woman with musculoskeletal pain and elevated serum parathyroid hormone who had undergone parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism 4 years earlier. An 18F-choline PET/CT scan was performed and incidentally showed an intense uptake in a right upper lobe pulmonary nodule and in the right hilar, mediastinal, and cervical lymph nodes. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of a small cell lung cancer. Clinical symptoms and recurrent hyperparathyroidism were therefore consistent with a paraneoplastic syndrome. A complete metabolic response was achieved on 18F-FDG PET/CT scan after chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Choline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperparathyroidism / complications
  • Hyperparathyroidism / diagnostic imaging
  • Hyperparathyroidism / surgery*
  • Incidental Findings*
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Parathyroidectomy*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / complications
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • fluorocholine
  • Choline