False-Positive Results in 18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT for a Thymoma in Workup of a Hereditary Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Clin Nucl Med. 2018 May;43(5):e151-e153. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000002034.

Abstract

We present the case of a severe familial primary hyperparathyroidism related to a germline deletion in the HRPT2 (CDC73) gene. Morphological explorations revealed 2 potential hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands: a left cervical lesion on the neck ultrasound, and an ectopic mediastinal lesion on the parathyroid scintigraphy using Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile and on F-fluorocholine PET/CT. Surgery removal and histopathological examination determined that the mediastinal mass corresponded to a thymoma and the cervical lesion to a parathyroid adenoma. Those interesting images illustrate that a thymoma can produce false-positive results both on Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintigraphy and F-fluorocholine PET/CT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Choline / analogs & derivatives
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Humans
  • Hyperparathyroidism, Primary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hyperparathyroidism, Primary / genetics
  • Male
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
  • Thymoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • fluorocholine
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
  • Choline