FDG-PET/CT and parathyroid carcinoma: Review of literature and illustrative case series.
Parathyroid cancer is an uncommon malignant cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis. The staging of parathyroid cancer represents an important issue both at initial diagnosis and after surgery and medical treatment. The role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) as an imaging tool in parathyroid cancer is not clearly reported in the literature, although its impact in other cancers is well-defined. The aim of the following illustrative clinical cases is to highlight the impact of PET/CT in the management of different phases of parathyroid cancer. We describe five patients with parathyroid malignant lesions, who underwent FDG PET/CT at initial staging, restaging and post-surgery evaluation. In each patient we report the value of PET/CT comparing its findings with other common imaging modalities (e.g., CT, planar scintigraphy with 99mTc-sestamibi, magnetic resonance imaging) thus determining the complementary benefit of FDG PET/CT in parathyroid carcinoma. We hope to provide an insight into the potential role of PET/CT in assessing the extent of disease and response to treatment which are the general principles used to correctly evaluate disease status.
Laura Evangelista, Giorgio Saladini, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV - IRCCS), Padova 35128, Italy.
Laura
L
Evangelista
Nadia
N
Sorgato
Francesca
F
Torresan
Isabella Merante
IM
Boschin
Gianmaria
G
Pennelli
Giorgio
G
Saladini
Andrea
A
Piotto
Domenico
D
Rubello
Maria Rosa
MR
Pelizzo