PET-CT FINDING OF BENIGN METASTASIZING LEIOMYOMA

Abstract

The ability to metastasize is considered to be one of the key features of malignant tumors. However, the literature describes the possibility of dissemination of histologically verified benign tumors – uterine leiomyoma. Diagnosis of metastatic leiomyoma is a challenging task for the doctor, due to the extreme rarity of this disease, at the same time revealing the purity of the process is determining the further tactics of treatment, significantly different from the treatment of malignancies. Case report. We presented a rare case of dissemination of benign tumors – leiomyomas. The female patient of 72 years old had signs of typical malignant tumors of the ovaries, such as nodules of the abdominal cavity, ascites and metastases in the body of the lumbar vertebra, increased level of CA-125. PET-CT revealed increased FDG uptake in soft-tissue neoplasm that destruct the body of the lumbar vertebrae and the nodules in the abdominal cavity with increased metabolic activity, typical for malignant tumors. However, histological examination with immunohistochemical verification confirmed the presence of dissemination of benign tumors. Conclusion. The presence of signs, typical for the malignant tumor, such as the presence of distant metastases of various localizations, a high level of CA-125 tumor marker, increased metabolic activity on PET scan in rare cases, may occur with benign tumors. Therefore, diagnosis of tumors should always be integrated, with the obligatory account all available clinical, laboratory and instrumental data.