Intense accumulation of gallium-67 citrate in pancreatic endocrine tumor.

Abstract

We report intense accumulation of gallium-67 (Ga-67) citrate in a pancreatic endocrine tumor. A 69-year-old woman was admitted because of cough, fever, and weight loss. An abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large tumor located between the liver and pancreas as well as swollen paraaortic lymph nodes. Whole-body scintigraphy with Ga-67 revealed intense accumulation in the upper abdomen corresponding to the mass, as well as in the midabdomen and the mediastinal lesion. Percutaneous needle biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The patient's condition deteriorated, and she died 2 months after admission. The pathological examination at autopsy revealed a pancreatic endocrine tumor. No report has described findings of Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy of pancreatic endocrine tumors. Pancreatic endocrine tumor should be included in a differential diagnosis when such scintigraphic findings are encountered.

• Authors: Rieko Watanabe, Harunao Iizuka, Kyoichi Kaira, Takanori Mori, Atsushi Takise, Jun Ito, Atsushi Motegi, Yasuhiro Onozato, Hiroshi Ishihara
• Journal: Radiation medicine (Radiat Med) Vol. 24 Issue 6 Pg. 456-8 (Jul 2006) ISSN: 0288-2043 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 16958428 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Citrates
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Gallium
• gallium citrate

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (diagnostic imaging, metabolism, pathology)
• Aged
• Biopsy, Needle
• Citrates (metabolism)
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Gallium (metabolism)
• Humans
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, metabolism, pathology)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Radiopharmaceuticals (metabolism)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed