A Lymphoma Almost Overlooked.

A 50-year-old female with a prolonged history of untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with a large vaginal mass. During workup, the mass was found to be vaginal squamous cell carcinoma. Imaging suggested stage IV disease, but a biopsy of liver lesions demonstrated synchronous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Her treatment course was notable for complete remission of her lymphoma with lymphoma-directed chemotherapy and complete clinical response of her squamous cell carcinoma to lymphoma-directed therapy. She tolerated intensive chemotherapy despite her HIV but eventually died due to infectious complications during surgery to address a vaginal fistula. The case is demonstrative of several important diagnostic and therapeutic principles in the management of HIV-associated malignancies. Thorough consideration and testing must be performed to ensure accurate staging, as synchronous malignancies and infections can distort standard clinical testing. Further, standard chemotherapeutic regimens often must be tailored and specially sequenced when dealing with severely immunocompromised patients with multiple synchronous processes.

Cisplatin-Induced Renal Salt Wasting Requiring over 12 Liters of 3% Saline Replacement.

Cisplatin is known to induce Fanconi syndrome and renal salt wasting (RSW). RSW typically only requires transient normal saline (NS) support. We report a severe RSW case that required 12 liters of 3% saline. A 57-year-old woman with limited stage small cell cancer was admitted for cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and etoposide (100 mg/m2) therapy. Patient's serum sodium (SNa) decreased from 138 to 133 and 125 mEq/L within 24 and 48 hours of cisplatin therapy, respectively. A diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) was initially made. Despite free water restriction, patient's SNa continued to decrease in association with acute onset of headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Three percent saline (3%S) infusion with rates up to 1400 mL/day was required to correct and maintain SNa at 135 mEq/L. Studies to evaluate Fanconi syndrome revealed hypophosphatemia and glucosuria in the absence of serum hyperglycemia. The natriuresis slowed down by 2.5 weeks, but 3%S support was continued for a total volume of 12 liters over 3.5 weeks. Attempts of questionable benefits to slow down glomerular filtration included the administration of ibuprofen and benazepril. To our knowledge, this is the most severe case of RSW ever reported with cisplatin.

FDG PET/CT as a prognostic test after 90Y radioembolization in patients with metastatic hepatic disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine FDG PET/CT utility in predicting patient outcome undergoing Y RE for metastatic liver tumors.Thirty-one patients with metastatic tumors to the liver underwent Y RE between March 15, 2007, and May 5, 2011, at our institution. FDG PET/CT imaging was performed on each patient within 3 months before and after undergoing Y RE. Pretreatment and posttreatment FDG PET/CT were evaluated for SUV, number of liver lesions, and presence of disease outside the liver. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to evaluate if SUV was a predictor of overall survival.Of the 31 patients, 12 were alive at the end of the study; median survival was 9 months (95% confidence interval, 7-18 months). The 24-month survival rate was 0.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.48). Kaplan-Meier analysis of preprocedure FDG PET/CT imaging showed no difference in rates of survival by number of lesions observed in the liver (P = 0.114) or presence of disease observed outside the liver (P = 0.719). Cases with new lesions outside the liver after treatment had significantly shorter survival times than cases without new lesions outside the liver (P = 0.002). Cox proportional hazard model showed that SUV levels before and after treatment were not significant predictors of overall survival.The appearance of new lesions outside the liver on FDG PET/CT within 3 months after Y RE was the only statistically significant variable in predicting poor outcome. Absence of new lesions outside the liver on postprocedure FDG PET/CT imaging helps identify patients achieving long-term survival.

Metabolic and receptor imaging in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: comparison of fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and computed tomography with indium in 111 pentetreotide.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and indium In 111 pentetreotide, individually or collectively, predict the outcome of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). METHODS: Between July 31, 2002, and May 4, 2007, 29 patients with previously diagnosed NETs underwent both PET/CT and indium In 111 pentetreotide imaging at our institution. The images were evaluated for the presence of abnormalities. Clinical outcomes were classified as survival without major morbidities, survival with severe complications of disease, or death. Time to outcome was measured in months from the imaging date to outcome. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated in which patient outcome was compared with results on PET/CT and indium In 111 pentetreotide imaging. RESULTS: Of the 29 patients, 9 had abnormalities on both PET/CT and indium In 111 pentetreotide imaging. Two patients had abnormal findings on PET/CT but normal findings on pentetreotide imaging. In 5 patients, findings were normal on PET/CT but abnormal on pentetreotide imaging. In 13 patients, normal findings were noted on both PET/CT and pentetreotide imaging. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significant survival advantage for patients who had normal findings on PET/CT in comparison with abnormal PET/CT findings (P = .01). Patients with normal findings on indium In 111 pentetreotide imaging had a higher but insignificant survival advantage over those with abnormal results on pentetreotide imaging (P = .08). CONCLUSION: For evaluation of NETs, PET/CT and indium In 111 pentetreotide are complementary. Increased metabolic activity in tumor cells is reflected by abnormalities on PET/CT. Patients who had abnormal PET/CT findings had a generally poorer prognosis and a more rapid clinical deterioration than those with normal PET/CT findings.