Estudio de imágenes PET con Flúor18-Desoxiglucosa (F18FDG) en evaluación de elevación de marcador tumoral CA 19-9 en paciente con cistoadenocarcinoma mucinoso de páncreas

We report a 38 years old female patient with a pancreatic mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. She presented at the onset with a peritoneal rupture that required emergency surgery. Five months later, the patient was subjected to a segmental pancreatectomy and splenectomy. One year later, the patient had a serious gastric bleeding secondary to a gastric ulcer. Due to a persistent increase in her CA 19-9 levels, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) functional imaging with fluorine 18-deoxyglucose (F18FDG) was done. It showed an intense focal hypermetabolism in the gastric wall reported as a secondary tumour location. The patient was subjected to a total gastrectomy and Roux en Y anastomosis, with a good outcome. The pathological study confirmed the presence of a metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the gastric wall. The relative value of CA 19-9 markers and FDG PET in pancreatic and gastric carcinomas is discussed (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 347-52).