Detection of Dural Metastases Before the Onset of Clinical Symptoms by 16α-[18F]Fluoro-17β-Estradiol PET in a Patient With Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Clin Nucl Med. 2021 Mar 1;46(3):e165-e167. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003382.

Abstract

We offer an illustrative case about estrogen receptor (ER) imaging (also known as 16α-[18F]fluoro-17β-estradiol ([18F]-FES) PET) and the detection of metastatic lesions in the dural region. We present a case of a woman with ER-positive metastatic breast cancer and high [18F]-FES uptake in the dural region on PET imaging, without associated clinical symptoms. These lesions were missed on [18F]-FDG PET because of physiological [18F]-FDG uptake in the brain. This case highlighted some difficulties in the interpretation of imaging of brain metastases and demonstrated the added value of [18F]-FES PET imaging. [18F]-FES PET could be used to prove the presence of ER-positive metastases in the brain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Dura Mater / diagnostic imaging*
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Estradiol
  • 16-fluoroestradiol