(18)F-FDG PET/CT for discrimination between tumor extension and blood thrombus in pancreatic adenocarcinoma associated with portal vein thrombosis

Rev Esp Med Nucl. 2008 Jan-Feb;27(1):40-4. doi: 10.1157/13114369.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. Less than 3 % of patients are alive 5 years after diagnosis. Pancreatic neoplasms represent a possible but uncommon etiology of portal venous invasion. It is important to differentiate the nature of the thrombus, if it is a bland thrombus or is a direct tumor extension. Intense uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) has been reported in portal vein tumor thrombus. We present a case of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and clinical findings of portal hypertension due to portal vein thrombosis. (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) evaluation discarded a tumor thrombus; imaging findings of the pancreatic tumor and the bland thrombus are presented.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / complications*
  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Portal / etiology
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Portal Vein / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed*
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18