[18F]FDOPA PET/CT in Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the Pancreas: a Recurred Tumor Mimicking Splenosis

Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2024 Apr;58(2):81-85. doi: 10.1007/s13139-023-00826-1. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

Abstract

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a neoplasm with low malignant potential. It is often challenging to diagnose SPT due to its nonspecific clinical and radiological features, and [18F]FDOPA is effective in diagnosing SPT, particularly in differentiating SPT from benign conditions such as splenosis. A 55-year-old woman underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy for histologically confirmed SPT. She was also initially diagnosed with splenosis. During follow-up, sizes of multiple nodular lesions were increased, raising the possibility of peritoneal seeding of SPT. For diagnosis, a spleen scan and SPECT/CT were performed using 99mTc-labeled damaged red blood cells, which showed no uptake in the peritoneal nodules. Subsequent [18F]FDOPA PET/CT revealed [18F]FDOPA-avidity of the nodules. The patient underwent tumor resection surgery, and the nodules were pathologically confirmed as SPT.

Keywords: PET/CT; Peritoneal seeding; Solid pseudopapillary tumor; Spleen scan; Splenosis; [18F]FDOPA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports