Positron Emission Tomography With Fluorodeoxyglucose Incidental Detection of Colon Cancer in a Patient’s Follow-Up for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a type of widespread, deadly malignancy that took thousands of lives around the globe. In the last two decades, CRC represented the most common cancer among men and ranked third among women in Saudi Arabia. Positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET), can incidentally detect malignancy, as in our case, FDG-PET disclosed high abnormal FDG far away from the first primary malignancy. The current case is of a 65-year-old female who was following up on her nasopharyngeal carcinoma (first primary). During her last management, FDG-PET was requested to find any FDG uptake in the nasopharyngeal region; stunning FDG uptake was incidentally found at the ascending colon diagnosed as early-stage (pT2N0) colon cancer. Colonoscopy was done and India Ink was injected to facilitate localizing the mass during the laparoscopic removal of the tumor, which was delayed due to the pandemic of COVID-19. This took place in March 2020 at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah.

Colon capsule endoscopy in patients with chronic respiratory disease during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Histopathological examination by therapeutic endoscopy using CS with personal protective equipment revealed six cases of adenoma, six cases of hyperplasia, one case of carcinoma in situ and no advanced cancer. There were no adverse events, such as retention, in any patient and no evidence of SARS-Cov-2 infection in There is a report suggesting the possibility of colon CT examination[3] and positron emission tomography[4] as an alternative method during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, CCE is free from radiation exposure and the only examination that can be performed at home without coming to hospital during the pandemic.…”

“…There were no adverse events, such as retention, in any patient and no evidence of SARS‐Cov‐2 infection in healthcare professionals. There is a report suggesting the possibility of colon CT examination [3] and positron emission tomography [4] as an alternative method during the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, CCE is free from radiation exposure and the only examination that can be performed at home without coming to hospital during the pandemic.…”

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on nasopharyngeal carcinoma extent at FDG PET/MR staging: The NPCOVIPET study

“…An estimated 51 000 new nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases, accounting for 1.3% of all new cancer cases, were diagnosed in China in 2015 5 . Few reports separately reported the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on NPC 6–8 . As the most accurate prognostic tool for NPC, the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) staging system is adopted for stratifying patients for treatment 9 …”

“…5 Few reports separately reported the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on NPC. [6][7][8] As the most accurate prognostic tool for NPC, the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) staging system is adopted for stratifying patients for treatment. 9 Positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown valuable in several oncological diseases including head and neck tumors.…”