Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma: involvement of the brain without evidence of extracranial malignancy by serial PET/CT scans.
BACKGROUND
Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) involving the brain is a rare manifestation of an uncommon tumor type.


METHODS
We report a 59 year-old Caucasian female diagnosed with an EPSCC involving the left parietal lobe without detectable extracranial primary tumor followed by serial positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. Histopathological examination at both initial presentation and recurrence revealed small cell carcinoma. Serial PET/CT scans of the entire body failed to reveal any extracranial [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) avid lesions at either diagnosis or follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy may show a transient response in the treatment of EPSCC. Further studies are needed to help identify optimal treatment strategies. Combination PET/CT technology may be a useful tool to monitor EPSCC and assess for an occult primary malignancy.
Hueser
Christopher N
CN
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, St, Louis University Hospital, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. huesercn@slu.edu
Nguyen
Nghi C
NC
Osman
Medhat
M
Havlioglu
Necat
N
Patel
Anjali J
AJ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019772:Topotecan / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019772:Topotecan