Endometrial carcinoma diagnosed by positron emission tomography: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning utilizes the recognized tumor metabolic property of increased glycolysis with the radioactive decay of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and generation of gamma radiation to provide quantitative tumor imaging. PET scanning has proven useful in the evaluation and staging of malignancies including malignant melanoma.


METHODS
As part of the preoperative staging evaluation a PET scan was performed in a 76-year-old white female with a biopsy-proven malignant melanoma on the posterior thorax. Physiologic uptake was delineated, and in addition, an area of increased uptake of FDG in the pelvis anatomically consistent with the uterus was observed. Subsequent endometrial sampling revealed a moderately differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Surgical staging revealed a stage IB, grade 2 lesion.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first case report of an endometrial carcinoma diagnosed incidentally by positron emission tomography in an asymptomatic patient.
Lentz
Samuel S
SS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest University School of Medicien, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. slentz@wfubmc.edu
D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18