FDG PET-CT demonstration of metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of prostate

Yiyan Liu

Nuclear Medicine Service, Department of Radiology, University Hospital, UMDNJ, Newark, New Jersey, USA

author email corresponding author email

World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2008, 6:64doi:10.1186/1477-7819-6-64


Published:	19 June 2008

Abstract

Background

FDG PET-CT is generally not suitable for diagnosing prostate cancer because of low glycolysis of the tumor cells. Neuroendocrine differentiation of the prostate cancer is often associated with early visceral metastasis and dismal prognosis, which is resulted from changed metabolic and regulatory pathways.

Case presentation

A case is reported in this paper that FDG PET-CT demonstrates intense uptake of neuroendocrine tumor of the prostate and multiple metastases.

Conclusion

There is high glycolysis and strong FDG-avidity of neuroendocrine tumor of the prostate, which is similar to that of high grade of neuroendocrine tumor in other tissue and organs. In some selected cases of prostate neuroendocrine cancer, whole body FDG PET-CT may be helpful for detection of metastatic disease.