Incidental detection of breast cancer by 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT performed for primary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

We present a case report of incidental detection of breast cancer in a female patient referred for 18F-fluorocholine (FCH) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) due to primary hyperparathyroidism. This imaging method was recently shown as more sensitive for the detection of metabolically hyperactive parathyroid glands than neck ultrasound and (2-metoksyizobutyloizonitryl labeled with technetium-99m) [99mTc]MIBI. Increased accumulation of FCH was found in the hyperactive parathyroid gland and unexpectedly in the right breast lesion. The surgery confirmed parathyroid adenoma. One month later right upper medial quadrantectomy confirmed breast carcinoma — a combination of invasive ductal carcinoma and intracystic papillary breast carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reporting of simultaneous detection of parathyroid adenoma and breast cancer by using 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT.