Pulmonary tumor embolism in renal cell carcinoma detected by hybrid CT and F18-PSMA PET

Radiol Case Rep. 2023 Sep 19;18(11):4222-4225. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.08.090. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Abstract

We present the case of a 75-year-old female in which a pulmonary tumor embolism was detected incidentally on a prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography-computed tomography restaging scan. This occurred on the background of renal cell carcinoma in remission with pazopanib systemic therapy and a right nephrectomy 4 years prior. An avidity to prostate-specific membrane antigen in the superior lingula of the left upper lobe of the lung coupled with contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings found the lesion to be a tumor thrombus. This case serves to highlight the effectiveness of incorporating contrast-enhanced computed tomography with prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography and to consider the rare diagnosis of a pulmonary tumor embolism.

Keywords: PSMA PET/CT; Pulmonary tumor embolism; Renal cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports