Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Neuroendocrine Neoplasia on 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2024 Jan 1;49(1):66-68. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004945. Epub 2023 Nov 16.

Abstract

We present a case of a 48-year-old woman who had previously undergone surgical resection for bladder paraganglioma. An 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT scan performed for suspected colorectal paraganglioma showed intense colorectal uptake associated with adenopathy. Histological examination did not support the presence of a neuroendocrine tumor but instead confirmed the presence of moderately differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma. Colorectal adenocarcinoma belongs to the list of nonneuroendocrine false-positive tumors that can be detected using 18 F-FDOPA. Therefore, a morphological analysis is important. Thus, 18 F-FDOPA may be a marker for the aggressiveness of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors* / pathology
  • Paraganglioma* / pathology
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Positron-Emission Tomography

Substances

  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine