Metachronous Ectopic CRH-Secreting Tumors Detected by 68 Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT.
Yi Yang, Zhen Zhang, Qingling Li et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 39-year-old woman with ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome underwent pituitary surgery after BIPSS indicated a central source. Post-surgery, symptoms persisted, and pathology showed an ACTH-negative adenoma, suggesting ectopic CRH secretion. Initial imaging with 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT was negative, but 68 Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT identified a right neck lesion, confirmed as a CRH-secreting tumor. Two years later, a second lesion in the right thigh was also confirmed histologically.
What made this case unusual
The case illustrates the utility of 68 Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT in identifying metachronous ectopic CRH-secreting tumors, which were not detected by standard imaging techniques.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider 68 Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for detecting ectopic CRH-secreting tumors in patients with persistent Cushing syndrome symptoms despite negative conventional imaging.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of advanced imaging techniques in the diagnosis of ectopic hormone-secreting tumors, which can significantly impact patient management.