Positron Emission Tomography-CT in Bronchial Mucoepidermoid Carcinomas
Positron Emission Tomography-CT in Bronchial Mucoepidermoid Carcinomas
Introduction: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree is rare. Such tumors usually present with signs and symptoms of bronchial obstruction. Histologically, they can be classified as high-grade or low-grade tumors. Experience of imaging these tumors with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) is limited. We present three cases of this rare tumor, describe the functional imaging results, and review the available literature.
Case presentation: Three Caucasian patients, two men (21 and 24 years of age) and one woman (14 years of age), with bronchial masses were evaluated by us. All three patients were symptomatic, and underwent a thorough clinical examination, bronchoscopy and biopsy, plain computed tomography, F-FDG PET-CT and Gallium 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-N,N,N,N,- tetra acetic acid (D) - Phel-Tyr-octreotide positron emission tomography-computed tomography (Ga-DOTATOC PET-CT). F-FDG PET-CT revealed mild uptake in all three patients, whereas Ga-DOTATOC PET-CT revealed no significant uptake in any patient, making carcinoid tumor unlikely. Results of histopathological examination were consistent with low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma in all patients.
Conclusion: Our study reveals that functional imaging may be helpful in the initial investigation of patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. F-FDG PET-CT may have a prognostic relevance by predicting the histopathologic differentiation of the tumor.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the tracheal-bronchial tree is rare, comprising only 0.1% to 0.2% of primary lung malignancies. It is believed to originate from the minor salivary glands lining the tracheal-bronchial tree. Although considered an indolent tumor, local invasion and lymph node metastases may occur. Computed tomography (CT) usually reveals a solitary nodule or an endobronchial mass with or without post-obstructive pneumonia or atelectasis. Recently, fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-CT has been reported to be useful in lung cancers and carcinoids. However, the literature on PET-CT findings in MECs is scanty. We present three cases of this rare tumor with the FDG uptake patterns, and review the available literature.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Introduction: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree is rare. Such tumors usually present with signs and symptoms of bronchial obstruction. Histologically, they can be classified as high-grade or low-grade tumors. Experience of imaging these tumors with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) is limited. We present three cases of this rare tumor, describe the functional imaging results, and review the available literature.
Case presentation: Three Caucasian patients, two men (21 and 24 years of age) and one woman (14 years of age), with bronchial masses were evaluated by us. All three patients were symptomatic, and underwent a thorough clinical examination, bronchoscopy and biopsy, plain computed tomography, F-FDG PET-CT and Gallium 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-N,N,N,N,- tetra acetic acid (D) - Phel-Tyr-octreotide positron emission tomography-computed tomography (Ga-DOTATOC PET-CT). F-FDG PET-CT revealed mild uptake in all three patients, whereas Ga-DOTATOC PET-CT revealed no significant uptake in any patient, making carcinoid tumor unlikely. Results of histopathological examination were consistent with low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma in all patients.
Conclusion: Our study reveals that functional imaging may be helpful in the initial investigation of patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. F-FDG PET-CT may have a prognostic relevance by predicting the histopathologic differentiation of the tumor.
Introduction
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the tracheal-bronchial tree is rare, comprising only 0.1% to 0.2% of primary lung malignancies. It is believed to originate from the minor salivary glands lining the tracheal-bronchial tree. Although considered an indolent tumor, local invasion and lymph node metastases may occur. Computed tomography (CT) usually reveals a solitary nodule or an endobronchial mass with or without post-obstructive pneumonia or atelectasis. Recently, fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-CT has been reported to be useful in lung cancers and carcinoids. However, the literature on PET-CT findings in MECs is scanty. We present three cases of this rare tumor with the FDG uptake patterns, and review the available literature.