Abstract
BackgroundColloid adenocarcinoma of the lung is a rare subtype of variants of invasive adenocarcinomas. We report the appearance of this unusual entity on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.Case presentationA 60-year-old man of Chinese Han nationality coughed with a little white sputum for 1 month. Chest computed tomography showed multiple bilateral subpleural nodules and plaques accompanied by air bronchograms, which were most concentrated in the lower lobe of his right lung. Positron emission tomography indicated increased radioactivity uptake with a maximum standardized uptake value of 3.5. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a soft tissue density lesion in his left adrenal gland with a maximum standardized uptake value of 4.1. The positron emission tomography/computed tomography appearance suggested a primary colloid adenocarcinoma in the lower lobe of his right lung accompanied by intrapulmonary and left adrenal gland metastases. The diagnostic rate of colloid adenocarcinoma can be increased by combining the anatomic and metabolic information of lesions.ConclusionsThe advantage of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis of colloid adenocarcinoma, as with other cancers, is the ability to locate extrapulmonary disease, facilitating clinical staging.
Highlights
Colloid adenocarcinoma of the lung is a rare subtype of variants of invasive adenocarcinomas
The potential pathological basis is that the tumor cells grew along the alveolar and bronchial walls and a one-way valve effect caused the alveoli to distend with air, resulting in air bronchograms [7]
A follow-up study conducted by Oka et al for 13 cases of colloid adenocarcinoma confirmed after surgery or biopsy indicated that primary tumors with diameters ≤3 cm had a better prognosis, while larger tumors tended to recur and develop intrapulmonary metastases [11]
Summary
Proper staging is of significant value for the evaluation of patient prognosis as well as the selection of treatment protocols. PET/CT combined with a diagnostic chest CT were valuable for diagnosis and staging of colloid adenocarcinoma the colloid adenocarcinoma had a relative lower FDG uptake. Abbreviations 18F-FDG: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose; CT: Computed tomography; PET: Positron emission tomography; SUVmax: Maximum standardized uptake value
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