68Ga-DOTATATE-PET/CT positive metastatic lymph node in a 69-year-old woman with Merkel cell carcinoma

Clin Nucl Med. 2012 Nov;37(11):1108-11. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e318266d3b3.

Abstract

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in whom subsequent lymph node metastasis was first diagnosed by 68Ga-Dotatate-PET/CT followed by histopathological confirmation. MCC is an extraordinarily rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of dermal origin with a high rate of postoperative recurrence. Owing to its rarity, the diagnosis of MCC remains a significant challenge. In our case, 68Ga-Dotatate-PET/CT proved clinically useful for diagnosing the lymph node metastasis of a MCC.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Multimodal Imaging*
  • Organometallic Compounds*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • gallium Ga 68 dotatate