title: A case of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus detected incidentally by FDG-PET.
abstract: Small cell carcinoma (SmC) of the esophagus is rare, and is sometimes impossible to detect by macroscopic inspection using an endoscope or histological examination of biopsied specimens. A 73-year-old man received F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to evaluate the response to radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy for lung cancer. FDG-PET showed abnormal accumulation in the posterior mediastinum. Endoscopy disclosed ulcerous lesions with marginal elevation in the middle segment of the esophagus, but the biopsy specimen taken concurrently was not malignant histologically. FDG-PET, performed two months later, revealed abnormal accumulation in the suspect area, and the extent of accumulation was wider than previously. Histological examination of the specimen biopsied during the endoscopy led to a diagnosis of SmC. FDG-PET thus proved useful in the early detection of SmC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torii
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oe
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Etsushi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
authors.forename: Harushi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osugi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiomi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18