A 25-year-old woman with a gastric GIST and a PET-positive epicardial tumor

Hybrid imaging of neuroendocrine tumors in the heart: Union is strength

Cardiac neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are particularly rare tumors that can lead to a very poor clinical outcome, partly because of metastases but mainly because of manifestations of the hormonal activity they exhibit. Prompt diagnosis is important in order to start the most effective treatment for their removal or management, with the fewest complications. They are often difficult to diagnose, especially in their early stages. One of the reasons for this is that the heart is an organ with a high rate of metabolism and is located in close proximity to other high-metabolism organs. In addition, the anatomic location and their small size render their diagnosis extremely challenging. In recent years, hybrid imaging methods have revolutionized the diagnostic approach to oncology patients and have established a place in the diagnosis of cardiac NETs, because they provide both anatomical and functional information at the same time. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), PET/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) and single-photon emission computed tomography/CT (SPECT/CT) are widely used in clinical practice because of the very important metabolic information, the high sensitivity and specificity. However, prospective studies are needed to confirm the true clinical and prognostic value of various hybrid imaging diagnostic techniques in cardiac NETs.

Combined PET/CT by 18F-FDOPA, 18F-FDA, 18F-FDG, and MRI correlation on a patient with Carney triad

Carney triad is a rare syndrome involving gastrointestinal stromal tumor, pulmonary chondroma, and extra-adrenal paraganglioma. We present a 21-year-old woman with the complete triad who was evaluated with MRI, F-FDOPA, F-FDA, and F-FDG. F-FDOPA best demonstrated the paraganglioma, whereas hepatic metastases noted by MRI demonstrated increased uptake only by F-FDG.

Cardiac paraganglioma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a pediatric case of Carney-Stratakis syndrome

The eponymous Carney triad reported the association of gastric leiomyosarcoma, also known as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, extra-adrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondromata. Subsequently, Carney and Stratakis distinguished the inherited gastrointestinal stromal tumor with paraganglioma syndrome from the classical Carney Triad as an autosomal dominant condition in adult patients. This combination of gastrointestinal stromal tumor and cardiac paragangliomata in a child is almost unique.

Clinical, radiologic and pathologic characteristics of the Carney triad: a case report and literature review

This report describes a patient with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage as initial presentations of the Carney triad, a synchronous or metachronous condition involving gastric leiomyosarcoma, extra-adrenal paraganglioma and pulmonary chondroma. A 26-year-old woman presented with dizziness and several episodes of melena over 3 days. Physical examination revealed pale conjunctiva but normal hemodynamic status. Gastroendoscopy showed one antral submucosal tumor with evidence of an associated bleeder (the bleeder over the mucosal surface of the gastric tumor). An abdominal computed tomography scan showed an antral submucosal tumor, two secondary lesions over segment II/V of the liver and a retroperitoneal tumor. Surgical removal of the tumor and subsequent recovery were uneventful. The gastric GIST with liver metastasis and retroperitoneal paraganglioma were confirmed by pathologic study. The patient was treated with imatinib mesylate for the GIST with liver metastasis, and continued follow-up treatment at our hospital. An abdominal computed tomography scan at 32 months after surgery showed no change in the liver metastatic lesions and no evidence of local recurrence. Another follow-up visit at 33 months after surgery confirmed the stable condition. Of nearly 100 cases reported in the literature, this case is the first to be reported in Taiwan. This case highlights the possibility of this rare syndrome occurring in young female patients with one of the three components of the triad and the need for further diagnostic studies for early identification of tumors when curative surgery is still possible.