Bone metastases with "false negative" findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with angiosarcoma: A case series with literature review

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Jul 14;102(28):e34196. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034196.

Abstract

Rationale: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is considered a reliable and indispensable imaging method when evaluating distant metastases and clinical staging of angiosarcomas. Here, we report 2 cases of angiosarcoma with bone metastases with "false negative" findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Patient concerns: Case 1, a 39-year-old woman, who had undergone mastectomy for primary angiosarcoma 2 years prior, presented with a 5-month history of right coxalgia. Case 2 was a 37-year-old woman, who had undergone mastectomy for primary angiosarcoma 4 months prior. During postoperative follow-up, multiple bone lesions were detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Diagnoses: Based on the histopathological findings, both cases were diagnosed with bone metastases of angiosarcoma. Although MRI showed multiple bone metastatic lesions, 18F-FDG PET/CT showed no uptake or osteolytic destruction in both cases.

Interventions: Weekly paclitaxel was initiated as a salvage chemotherapy in both cases.

Outcomes: No uptake or osteolytic lesions were observed on 18F-FDG PET/CT, despite multiple bone metastases detected on MRI.

Lessons: False-negative findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT should be considered when evaluating bone metastases of angiosarcoma. Even with negative findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT, open biopsy should be performed if MRI indicates bone metastases.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Diseases*
  • Bone Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Hemangiosarcoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Radiopharmaceuticals