Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose identifies tumor growth or thrombosis in the portal vein with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus in the portal vein generally have a poor prognosis. Portal vein tumor thrombus must be distinguished from portal vein blood thrombus, and this identification plays a very important role in management of HCC. Conventional imaging modalities have limitations in discrimination of portal vein tumor thrombus. The application of positron emission tomography (PET) with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) for discrimination between tumor extension and blood thrombus has been reported in few cases of HCC, while portal tumor thrombosis and portal vein clot identified by (18)F-FDG PET/CT in HCC patients has not been reported so far. We present two HCC cases, one with portal vein tumor thrombus and one thrombosis who were identified with (18)F-FDG PET/CT. This report illustrates the complimentary value of combining the morphological and functional imaging in achieving a correct diagnosis in such clinical situations.
Sun
Long
L
Minnan PET Center, The First Hospital of Xiamen, Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
Wu
Hua
H
Pan
Wei-Ming
WM
Guan
Yong-Song
YS
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18