Background Many patients referred with a provisional diagnosis of cancer of unknown primary (pCUP) present with presumed metastatic disease to the liver. Due to the lack of definitive histological markers, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) may be overlooked. This study assessed the frequency of iCCA within a pCUP cohort. Methods A single UK cancer-center study of sequential patients referred with pCUP from January 2017 to April 2020. Baseline diagnostic imaging was reviewed independently by a radiologist and oncologist; those with radiological features of iCCA (dominant liver lesion, capsular retraction) were identified. Results Of 228 patients referred with pCUP, 72 (32%) had malignancy involving the liver. 24/72 patients had radiological features consistent with iCCA; they were predominantly female (75%) with an average age of 63 years and 63% had an ECOG PS ≤ 2. The median overall survival (OS) of the iCCA group and the remaining liver-involved CUP group were similar (OS 4.1 vs 4.4 months, p-value = 0.805). Patients, where a primary diagnosis was subsequently determined, had better OS (10.2 months, p-values: iCCA = 0.0279: cCUP = 0.0230). Conclusions In this study, 34% of patients with liver-involved pCUP, fulfilled the radiological criteria for an iCCA diagnosis. Consideration of an iCCA diagnosis in patients with CUP could improve timely diagnosis, molecular characterisation and treatment.
Bone metastases from prostate cancer most commonly affect the axial and proximal appendicular skeleton with rare involvement of the distal limbs. We describe a case of multiple bone metastases confined to the left lower limb in a patient with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. Following an initial post-operative PSA rise, the patient received a course of salvage radiotherapy to the pelvis, however, the PSA level continued to rise and two consequent staging CT scans were negative for local recurrence and metastatic disease. Subsequent development of left ankle pain and swelling led the patient to present to his General Practitioner, which triggered a series of imaging investigations that revealed isolated left lower limb bone metastases. This case report highlights the need to consider peripheral limb bone metastases in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, particularly in the setting of a negative staging CT scan and/or bone pain.
According to published guidelines and routine procedures, patients are instructed to avoid strenuous exercise for 6 to 24 hours before FDG imaging, avoiding unfavorable muscular uptake. A 40-year-old man with esophageal carcinoma underwent FDG PET/CT for response assessment. Intense uptake was noted in the muscles of the right upper limb and chest. The patient stated he had avoided exercise before scanning. On further questioning, he was found to be a professional painter and decorator and had been working stripping wallpaper. Marked skeletal FDG uptake occurs in subjects who have strenuously exerted themselves before or after the injection of FDG.
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