18F-FDG PET findings of a parathyroid cancer with cortical skeletal demineralization

Abstract

A 57-year-old man with the incidental finding of hypercalcemia visited our hospital. On radiographic evaluation, an extrathyroid mass and a thyroid isthmic nodule, which showed accumulation of Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile, was observed. Suspecting parathyroid cancer, an FDG PET was performed. FDG accumulation was noted in both lesions, with diffuse skeletal hypermetabolism. The extrathyroid mass and isthmic nodule were confirmed to be a parathyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter, respectively. The skeletal metabolism was nearly normalized postoperatively. We report a case of parathyroid cancer with skeletal demineralization, which is identified rarely on FDG PET. © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.