18F-fluorocholine uptake in a case of adrenal incidentaloma: possible diagnostic pitfall or potential tool for adrenocortical tumors characterization?

Clin Nucl Med. 2013 Feb;38(2):e83-4. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e318251e43b.

Abstract

The understanding of radiotracer's physiological biodistribution as well as the potential source of false-positive results is crucial for an accurate diagnostic interpretation of (18)F-fluorocholine PET/CT examination in patients with prostate cancer. We illustrate the results of whole-body (18)F-fluorocholine PET/CT in a 79-year-old man with biochemical suspicion of prostate adenocarcinoma relapse. PET/CT study showed a focally increased (18)F-fluorocholine uptake, characterizing an incidentally found adrenocortical adenoma. Finally, we draw oncologists' attention to the possible false-positive results of (18)F-fluorocholine PET related to benign and unsuspected adrenocortical lesions in patients with a history of prostate malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Aged
  • Biological Transport
  • Choline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Choline / pharmacokinetics
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • fluorocholine
  • Choline

Supplementary concepts

  • Adrenal incidentaloma