NET-Induced Carcinoid Heart Disease Affecting Both Tricuspid and Aortic Valves Due to Patent Foramen Ovale and Right/Left Shunt: A Multi-imaging Challenge to Nuclear Medicine

Clin Nucl Med. 2024 Feb 1;49(2):157-159. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000005004.

Abstract

Carcinoid heart disease (Hedinger syndrome) is a long-term consequence in hormone-active neuroendocrine tumors with hepatic metastases and carcinoid syndrome. Because of serotonin, excess multiple cardiac and pulmonary symptoms evolve, which are further complicated by a patent foramen ovale due to right-left shunting. We present a 53-year-old man with an ileum-neuroendocrine tumor including gross liver metastases and long-term stable disease who subsequently developed Hedinger syndrome. Initially experiencing progressive dyspnea, he eventually experienced severe hypoxemia due to patent foramen ovale. 99mTc-MAA lung perfusion scintigraphy quantitatively identified the right-left shunting, whereas 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT characterized the typical fibrous heart valve thickening due to serotonin-induced fibroblast proliferative properties.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease* / complications
  • Carcinoid Heart Disease* / diagnostic imaging
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent* / complications
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / complications
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuclear Medicine*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Serotonin

Substances

  • Serotonin