Occult metastatic lung carcinoma presenting as locally advanced uterine carcinosarcoma on positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2007 May-Jun;17(3):731-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2007.00837.x.

Abstract

Increasingly, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is being used as a tumor surveillance modality for multiple tumor types. A 73-year-old postmenopausal female with stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer presented after a PET/CT demonstrated focal uptake in the superior and lateral aspects of the uterus. The patient reported a history of intermittent postmenopausal bleeding and an endometrial biopsy documented uterine carcinosarcoma. Postoperative pathologic review and immunohistochemical staining with thyroid transcription factor-1 revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma consistent with her lung primary in her uterus and adnexa. Our case represents a rare occurrence in which lung cancer has metastasized to multiple female pelvic organs. Increasing use of PET/CT may lead to the discovery of occult metastases masquerading as a second primary malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Carcinosarcoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinosarcoma / secondary*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / secondary*