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A case of diffuse hepatic angiosarcoma diagnosed by FDG-PET
Ai Oe1, Daiki Habu, Joji Kawabe
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan. oeai@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Annals of Nuclear Medicine
|October 27, 2005
Summary
A rare liver cancer, hepatic angiosarcoma, was diagnosed in a woman presenting with abdominal swelling and leg edema. Fluorine-18 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging revealed diffuse liver abnormalities, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare primary liver malignancy.
- Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) can be a complication of liver conditions.
- Early diagnosis of liver tumors is crucial for patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A 76-year-old woman presented with a two-month history of abdominal distension, leg edema, and dyspnea.
- Initial CT scan did not reveal a tumor.
- Elevated serum transaminase levels were noted.
Findings:
- FDG-PET imaging demonstrated diffuse abnormal uptake throughout the liver.
- Histopathological examination confirmed hepatic angiosarcoma causing VOD.
- This case represents the first reported instance of hepatic angiosarcoma visualized with FDG-PET.
Implications:
- FDG-PET may be a valuable tool for diagnosing hepatic angiosarcoma, especially when conventional imaging is inconclusive.
- This finding could improve the early detection and management of this rare liver cancer.
- Further research is warranted to explore the role of FDG-PET in hepatic angiosarcoma detection and staging.