Asymptomatic malignant melanoma of the gallbladder with multiple brain metastases diagnosed with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Malignant melanoma of the gallbladder (MMG) is extremely rare and its early stage diagnosis is difficult. Most reports of MMG describe metastatic tumors. We herein report a rare case of presumed primary MMG diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) cytology without surgical resection. A 72-year-old Japanese male was diagnosed with multiple brain metastases. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography showed an abnormal uptake of FDG at the gallbladder; enhanced CT and MRI also showed an enhanced gallbladder lesion, which indicated a malignancy. We performed endoscopic naso-gallbladder drainage. However, cytological examination of the drained bile showed no evidence of malignancy. Finally, EUS-FNA was performed to confirm the histological diagnosis; cytopathological assessment, including immunohistochemical analysis, showed a cluster of small to large-sized cells with nuclear pleomorphism and melanin pigment, which was compatible with malignant melanoma. The patient subsequently underwent chemotherapy; however, he died 2 months after diagnosis. In patients with gallbladder tumors, MMG should be suspected even in patients with no history of malignant melanoma or any cutaneous lesions. EUS-FNA is safe and useful to confirm histological diagnoses and to determine optimal treatment strategies.

Case of adult T-cell leukemia with pulmonary involvement presenting as nodular shadows.

A 60-year-old man with a diagnosis of smoldering adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) had been treated successfully for 4 years with psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy, gamma-interferon, oral etoposide and sobuzoxane. He subsequently developed rapidly-growing skin nodules over his entire body. Chest X-ray and thoracic computed tomography showed nodular shadows in the right lower lung field and nodules in both lower lung lobes. Despite combined chemotherapy, he died. Upon autopsy, numerous nodules were found in the bilateral lower lobes; microscopically, the nodules were diffusely infiltrated by ATL cells. Our review of the published work found only two previously reported cases of ATL with pulmonary involvement manifested as nodular shadows. Herein, we present details on the third case.

Associations between liver (18)F fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose accumulation and various clinical parameters in a Japanese population: influence of the metabolic syndrome.

PURPOSE: Liver demonstrates a heterogeneous (18)F fluoro-2-deoxy-D: -glucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake pattern and sometimes shows an abnormally increased uptake even when there is no malignant tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships of liver (18)F-FDG uptake as related to physical factors, fatty liver, blood glucose (BG), and other biochemical data. METHODS: (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed in 101 consecutive subjects for cancer screening. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to define the best predictors of the liver standardized uptake value (SUV) among height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, BG and other biochemical data, i.e., aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, total bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, we evaluated the association between liver (18)F-FDG uptake and the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The independent factors for increased liver (18)F-FDG uptake (mean SUV > or = 2) were BMI (P < 0.0001), triglycerides (P = 0.0007), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.0013). Other factors were not significantly associated with liver (18)F-FDG uptake. In addition, the liver (18)F-FDG uptake of metabolic syndrome subjects was significantly higher than that of a non-metabolic syndrome subjects. CONCLUSIONS: BMI was the strongest determinant of liver (18)F-FDG uptake, and the liver (18)F-FDG uptake of metabolic syndrome subjects was significantly higher than that of non-metabolic syndrome subjects. This result suggests that a subject with a high liver (18)F-FDG uptake should be screened for the metabolic syndrome.

Role of gastric distention with additional water in differentiating locally advanced gastric carcinomas from physiological uptake in the stomach on 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the role of gastric distention with additional water to determine whether it is beneficial for the differentiation of locally advanced gastric carcinomas from physiological 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake in the stomach and to characterize the FDG uptake of gastric carcinomas by relating it to the histopathological properties of the tumours. METHODS: Sixteen patients with locally advanced gastric carcinomas and 20 control patients were studied by FDG-PET. After whole-body PET imaging, the patients drank 400 ml of water and then spot imaging with additional water of the stomach was performed. The final diagnosis was determined from the results of surgery. The gastric areas were divided into the upper, middle, and lower parts. The degree of FDG uptake in the stomach was qualitatively evaluated by visual grading into three degrees. For quantitative analysis, the regional tumour uptake was measured by mean standardized uptake values using a region of interest technique. RESULTS: In visual analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of PET without additional water ingestion were 100, 50, 62, 100 and 72%, respectively, and those of PET with additional water ingestion were 88, 100, 100, 91 and 94%, respectively. Using spot imaging under the condition with additional water ingestion, four gastric carcinomas were depicted more clearly. CONCLUSION: Gastric distention as a result of patients drinking a glass of water is a simple and noninvasive method for improving the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET in patients with locally advanced gastric carcinoma.

An analysis of the physiological FDG uptake in the stomach with the water gastric distention method.

PURPOSE: Physiological FDG uptake in the stomach is a common phenomenon, especially noted at the cardia. Water intake just before scanning will result in gastric distention and thinning of the gastric wall, which in turn may lead to a reduction in the physiological uptake in the gastric wall. In the current study, we investigated whether gastric distention by water intake just before PET imaging reduces physiological FDG uptake in the stomach. METHODS: The patient population comprised 60 patients who underwent whole-body FDG-PET imaging for cancer screening following gastroscopy performed within the preceding week. All patients took 400 ml of water for hydration and were administered 185 MBq of FDG intravenously. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: a group with additional water intake (AW group; n = 30) and a group without additional water intake (NW group; n = 30). In the AW group, an additional 400 ml of water was given just before PET imaging. For quantitative analysis, the stomach was classified into three areas [upper (U), middle (M) and lower (L)], and the degree of FDG uptake in each area was evaluated using standardised uptake values (SUVs). RESULTS: In the NW group, the mean SUVs in the U, M and L areas were 2.41 +/- 0.75, 2.28 +/- 0.73 and 1.61 +/- 0.89, respectively, while in the AW group they were 1.82 +/- 0.66, 1.73 +/- 0.56 and 1.48 +/- 0.49, respectively, and 2.21 +/- 0.38 in the oesophago-gastric junction. The mean SUVs in the U and M areas in the AW group were significantly lower than those in the NW group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Additional water intake just before PET imaging is an effective method for suppressing physiological FDG uptake in the stomach.