FDG PET/CT in a Case of Metastasizing Pleomorphic Adenoma in the Ilium

Clin Nucl Med. 2025 Feb 1;50(2):198-200. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000005572.

Abstract

Although pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands are benign tumors, they can metastasize to distant organs without evidence of malignant transformation. We describe FDG PET/CT finding in a case of metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma in the right ilium occurring 22 years after initial surgical resection of a lip pleomorphic adenoma. On FDG PET/CT, the iliac metastasis appeared as an expansile osteolytic lesion with heterogeneous activity. This case indicates that metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of FDG-avid osteolytic bone lesions in patients with a history of salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma, Pleomorphic* / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenoma, Pleomorphic* / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Ilium* / diagnostic imaging
  • Ilium* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18