Atrial Metastasis From Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma: Integration Between 18F-FDG PET/CT and Cardiac 3-Dimensional Volume Rendering.

ABSTRACT

We describe the case of a 54-year-old woman, previously submitted to nephrectomy for sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma and treated with antibiotics because of central venous catheter infection. An F-FDG PET/CT scan was obtained that demonstrated bone and lymph node metastases and also disclosed an irregular area of highly increased uptake (SUVmax 19.4) in the right atrium. Clinical data did not suggest a relapsed infection. A contrast-enhanced CT examination of the heart enabled the diagnosis of intra-atrial metastasis. Furthermore, integration between PET and cardiac 3-dimensional volume rendering proved useful for defining the anatomical relationships between atrial metastasis and large vessels.