Bilateral adrenal gland metastasis from malignant fibrous histiocytoma: value of [F-18]FDG PET-CT for diagnosis of occult metastases

Ann Nucl Med. 2006 Dec;20(10):695-8. doi: 10.1007/BF02984682.

Abstract

The vast majority of soft tissue sarcomas metastasize initially to the lungs. We report a 71-year-old woman with malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the right buttock and thigh that metastasized to the bilateral adrenal glands without development of pulmonary metastasis. Whole-body [F-18]FDG PET-CT showed abnormal tracer uptakes in the bilateral adrenal glands in addition to high accumulation in the primary soft tissue tumors. CT-guided needle biopsy revealed that both of the adrenal lesions were metastatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma. There was no pulmonary or other visceral metastasis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of malignant fibrous histiocytoma metastatic to the bilateral adrenal glands without development of pulmonary metastases. This case illustrates the excellence of [F-18]FDG PET-CT scan for diagnosis of occult metastases from soft tissue sarcomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / diagnosis*
  • Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / diagnosis*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18