[Thymic carcinoid tumor revealed by a Cushing's syndrome: usefulness of positron emission tomography].

Abstract

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) syndrome is a rare condition, generally due to lung or carcinoid tumors. 18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) can be useful where conventional localization techniques often fail. A 50-year-old man presented with sudden diffuse oedema, hypokaliemic alkalosis, Diabetes mellitus and high serum levels of ACTH and cortisol. Ectopic ACTH syndrome was confirmed leading to ketoconazole treatment. Chest-computed tomography only revealed an aspecific anterior mediastinal nodule that was hypermetabolic on the whole body-(18)FDG-PET. A thymic tumor was suspected and the patient had a thymectomy that revealed an atypical carcinoid tumor with pleural carcinosis. The postoperative course was favorable with clinical and biochemical remission of neoplastic Cushing's syndrome.

• Authors: E Gomard-Mennesson, P Sève, E De La Roche, S Collardeau-Frachon, C Lombard-Bohas, C Broussolle
• Journal: La Revue de medecine interne (Rev Med Interne) Vol. 29 Issue 9 Pg. 751-3 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 0248-8663 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Tumeur carcinoïde du thymus révélée par un syndrome de Cushing: intérêt de la tomographie par émission de positons.
• PMID: 18304700 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

Topics

• Carcinoid Tumor (complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Cushing Syndrome (etiology)
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Thymus Neoplasms (complications, diagnostic imaging)