title: Intratumoral Heterogeneity of Subcutaneous Nodules in a Never-Smoker Woman of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Detected on 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography: A Case Report.
abstract: Subcutaneous tissue is a rare site of metastasis, accounting for only 1-2% of all lung neoplasms. Positron emission tomography (PET) using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been reported to increase the diagnostic accuracy of subcutaneous metastasis. A 58-year-old woman presented with complaints of dry coughing, in which three positive subcutaneous nodules were found on ¹⁸F-FDG positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT). Pathologic examination confirmed that each of the nodules contained 1) necrotic fat, 2) small amounts of blood cells and glandular epithelium, and 3) subcutaneous metastasis of moderately differentiated lung squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Although PET/CT is useful for the detection of subcutaneous metastasis of primary lung cancer, we noted heterogeneous accumulation of ¹⁸F-FDG in subcutaneous tumors. This case highlights the importance of obtaining histological confirmation of malignant diseases whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences (QZ, DH, D-KZ); Department of Radiation Oncology VI, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute (QZ, Z-TW, DH, D-ZA, D-KZ, B-S); and Department of Rehabilitation, Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, ShanDong, China (J-LS).
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhong-Tang
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dian-Zheng
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Da-Kai
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bao-Sheng
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18