Liver adenomatosis mimics metastatic liver involvement on FDG-PET/ CT

BACKGROUND

Liver adenomatosis is a very rare disease. In the literature, we were able to find only two case reports documenting the appearance of this disease on PET/CT with 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT).

CASE

Numerous liver foci were detected during sonography in a 52-year-old female patient with uncharacteristic pain in the epigastrium without oncological history, with negative oncomarkers and without clinical signs of generalized neoplasia. Complementary MRI examination expressed the suspicion of metastatic origin of the foci, and FDG-PET/CT was indicated in order to identify the primary tumour and assess the extent of the disease. A whole-body FDG-PET/CT examination showed multiple (> 20) markedly hypermetabolic liver foci with 3-20 mm in diameter, reaching a relative accumulation of SUVBWmax = 13, together with several ametabolic cysts; elsewhere in the scope of the examination, focally pathologically increased metabolic activity was not evident. Subsequently, the patient underwent a biopsy targeted at one of the hypermetabolic liver foci with the finding of HNF 1A inactivated variant of hepatocellular adenoma; primary or secondary malignancy was not demonstrated. Considering the histological findings and the large number of liver foci, the final diagnosis of liver adenomatosis was set. The patient remains under continuous observation.

CONCLUSION

Adenomatous foci were markedly hypermetabolic during FDG-PET/CT examination and could not be distinguished from tumour metastases by this method. Our finding is consistent with two other observations we were able to find in the literature.

Advanced duodenal neoplasia and carcinoma in familial adenomatous polyposis: outcomes of surgical management

Background

In addition to the presence of neoplasia in the colon and rectum, patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) may develop numerous polyps and carcinoma within the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Methods

The aim of the present paper was to review the incidence advanced duodenal polyposis or cancer and their surgical outcomes. A retrospective review of patients' records from our department was performed. Information was retrieved from a prospective collected data, including clinical (gender, age, family history), endoscopic [association with colorectal cancer (CRC), polyposis severity, age at diagnosis] and surgical management (age, time from the index surgery, type of procedure, morbidity). Duodenal adenomatosis at the time of surgery was classified according to Spigelman stages.

Results

In a group of 145 FAP patients, 8 (5.5%) had been surgically treated for duodenal advanced neoplasia [3] or cancer [5]. There were included 2 women and 6 men whose first endoscopic examination and diagnosis of advanced neoplasia/cancer was made at median ages of 47.3 [28-63] and 51.8 years, respectively. Duodenal carcinomas occurred later (55.8 years) when compared to advanced adenomatosis (45.3 years). Three patients were diagnosed due to symptoms, while the others were detected under endoscopic surveillance. Age interval between FAP treatment and duodenal neoplasia diagnosis was 15.3 years [0-47]. All but one patient underwent duodenopancreatectomy (DP). Two from the 7 patients undergoing DP died, one from pulmonary embolism 30 days after surgery and the other from recurrent T4N0 duodenal tumor. Thus, major operative morbidity and mortality were 12.5%.

Conclusions

In this single-center Brazilian series of FAP patients: (I) advanced duodenal neoplasia or cancer requiring surgery occurred in 5.5% of patients; (II) when reaching the fifth decade of life, patients should be carefully evaluated to diagnose and treat early lesions; (III) in spite of the technical complexity of DP, operative morbidity is acceptable in experienced hands; and (IV) continuous surveillance is necessary during follow-up.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy for advanced duodenal and ampullary adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis

BACKGROUND

Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) develop duodenal and ampullary polyps that may progress to malignancy via the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to review a large series of FAP patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for advanced duodenal and ampullary polyposis.

METHODS

A retrospective case notes review of all FAP patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for advanced duodenal and ampullary adenomatosis was performed.

RESULTS

Between October 1993 and January 2010, 38 FAP patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for advanced duodenal and ampullary polyps. Complications occurred in 29 patients and perioperative mortality in two. Postoperative histology revealed five patients to have preoperatively undetected cancer (R = 0.518, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreaticoduodenectomy in FAP is associated with significant morbidity, but low mortality. All patients under consideration for operative intervention require careful preoperative counselling and optimization.