RESUMO
ABSTRACT Objective: Although 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) uptake is frequently observed in extraosseous metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with calcification, it can also occur in metastatic sites without visible calcium deposition, leading to the hypothesis that visually undetectable calcium accumulation may be responsible for this uptake. The aim of this study was to indirectly support this hypothesis by analyzing the correlation between the degree of 18F-NaF uptake and radiodensity in extraosseous MTC metastases, since calcium deposition can increase attenuation even when not visually detectable. Subjects and methods: Extraosseous metastatic lesions of 15 patients with MTC were evaluated using 18F-NaF positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and segmented by levels of standardized uptake value (SUV). The correlation between mean SUV and mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values was assessed for the entire group of segments and for two subgroups with different mean HU values. Results: Very high correlations were observed between mean SUV and mean HU values for both the entire group of segments and the subgroup with a mean HU value greater than 130 (p = 0.92 and p = 0.95, respectively; p < 0.01). High correlation (p = 0.71) was also observed in the subgroup with mean HU values ranging from 20 to 130 (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that there is an association between 18F-NaF uptake and calcium deposition in extraosseous metastases of MTC, supporting the hypothesis that visually undetectable calcium accumulation may be responsible for 18F-NaF uptake in regions without visible calcium deposition.
RESUMO
A osteomalácia oncogênica hipofosfatêmica (OOH) é uma síndrome paraneoplásica induzida por tumor, de tecidos mole ou ósseo. Apresenta-se com dor e fraturas, acompanhada de hipofosfatemia, hiperfosfatúria e concentrações plasmáticas de 1,25(OH)2D3 inapropriadamente normais/diminuídas. Após a remoção do tumor, a completa resolução das anormalidades clínicas e bioquímicas é sua maior característica. Uma mulher de 44 anos de idade é descrita no caso com dificuldade para caminhar por causa de dores nos membros inferiores, fraqueza muscular generalizada e hipofosfatemia com relativa hiperfosfatúria. A cintilografia de corpo total com sestamibi-99mTc mostrou acúmulo do radiofármaco no terço superior de coxa esquerda onde pequeno tumor foi detectado no exame pelo ultra-som. Com a retirada do tumor, um lipoma, os sintomas melhoraram após um mês, com recuperação completa ao redor do quarto mês. Neste caso, a cintilografia de corpo inteiro com sestamibi-99mTc foi decisiva na localização do tumor causador da osteomalácia oncogênica.
Oncogenic osteomalacia is a paraneoplastic syndrome usually induced by bone or soft tissue tumors. It is presented by the development of pain and fractures with hypophosphatemia, hyperphosphaturia, and inappropriate normal/low plasma 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration. After the removal of the tumor the complete resolution of all biochemical and clinical abnormalities is the main characteristic. A case of a 44-year-old female with difficulty in walking due to leg pain and generalized muscle weakness and hypophosphatemia, with relative hyperphosphaturia, is described. A whole-body 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy showed accumulation in the left thigh region, and a small tumor was detected by ultrasound examination. By removal of the tumor, a lipoma, the symptoms improved significantly after a month, with complete recovery by the fourth month. In this case, 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy was useful in identifying the location of the tumor, which caused oncogenic osteomalacia.