18F-FDG PET/CT of Brown Adipose Tissue Hyperactivation Associated With Pregnancy and Paraganglioma

Clin Nucl Med. 2017 Dec;42(12):950-951. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001819.

Abstract

This 32-year-old woman presented with pregnancy-related arterial hypertension unresponsive to antihypertensive therapy. During cesarean delivery, a lobulated retroperitoneal mass was discovered. F-FDG PET/CT performed 18 days postpartum demonstrated the hyperactive retroperitoneal mass and extensive hyperactivated brown adipose tissue. The mass was surgically removed, revealing a para-aortic multicentric paraganglioma. After surgery, blood pressure normalized, and serum chromogranin A and urinary metanephrines normalized. Brown adipose tissue hypermetabolism disappeared on follow-up FDG PET. Her initial FDG PET demonstrated brown adipose tissue hyperactivation, which may have been caused by the combination of hormonal changes in pregnancy and the paraganglioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / pathology
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Paraganglioma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Paraganglioma / pathology*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pregnancy Complications / pathology*

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18