title: Imaging of a thymoma incidentally detected by C-11 choline PET/CT.
abstract: The integrated modality positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with C-11 choline is an established diagnostic tool for restaging prostate cancer patients with a biochemical failure after primary treatment. Thymoma is a rare tumor originating in thymus epithelial cells, asymptomatic in one-third to one-half of patients, and often occurring in the fourth and fifth decades of life. In the present case, C-11 choline PET/CT was performed in a prostate cancer patient with a biochemical relapse, to restage the disease. In addition to the detection of local recurrent disease in prostatic fossa, an abnormal C-11 choline increased uptake in mediastinum was reported. The mediastinal finding was initially wrongly interpreted by clinicians as a lymph nodal metastasis from prostate cancer. However, histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of a thymoma. Although rare, thymoma has to be considered as differential diagnosis in case of mediastinal masses presenting C-11 choline PET/CT positive findings, to avoid inappropriate patient management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallanca
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picchio
authors.forename: Elena Giulia
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Spinapolice
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ugolini
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002794:Choline; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002794:Choline