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Lim, Hong, Shin, Kim, Jee, Myoung, Park, and Park: A Case of Primary Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma Mimicking Pulmonary Embolism: Role of PET/CT for Differential Diagnosis
Case Report
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2007; 62(3): 232-236.

Published online: 31 March 2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.62.3.232

A Case of Primary Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma Mimicking Pulmonary Embolism: Role of PET/CT for Differential Diagnosis

Sang-Soo Lim, M.D.1, Koo-Hyun Hong, M.D.1, Jae-Min Shin, M.D.1, Youn Seup Kim, M.D.1, Young Koo Jee, M.D.1, Na Hye Myoung, M.D.2, Seok Gun Park, M.D.3, Jae Seuk Park, M.D.1

1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Chonan, Korea.

2Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Chonan, Korea.

3Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Chonan, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Jae Seuk Park, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University, College of Medicine, 16-5 Anseo-dong, Chonan, 330-715, Korea. Phone: 82-41-550-3055, Fax: 82-41-556-3256, jspark@dankook.ac.kr

Received 23 January 2007       Accepted 20 February 2007

Copyright © 2007 The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor arising from the pulmonary artery. Diagnosis of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is quite difficult and the conditon is often misdiagnosed as a more common disease, such as a pulmonary embolism. PET can help in diagnosing a pulmonary artery sarcoma due to the increased uptake of 18F-FDG in the area of the tumor. However, the poor anatomic resolution of PET has limited its clinical applications in pulmonary vascular disease. The recently developed PET/CT is the fusion of PET and CT that improves the anatomical resolution of PET. We report a case of a primary pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking a pulmonary embolism that was diagnosed with PET/CT and confirmed with a surgical resection.

Keywords: PET/CT, Pulmonary artery sarcoma, Embolism

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Chest PA shows ill defined consolidation and ipsilateral pleural effusion in right hemithorax.
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Figure 2
CT scan shows a soft tissue mass in right main pulmonary artery and ipsilateral pleural effusion.
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Figure 3
PET(A), CT(B), and fusion of PET and CT (PET/CT)(C) shows FDG uptake at right main pulmonary artery(arrow).
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Figure 4
Exisioned lung shows yellowish round mass obstructing right main pulmonary artery(A) and histologic finding shows malignant fibrous histiocytoma with a background of spindle cells in a storiform configuration and giant cells (H&E staining, ×400)(B).
trd-62-232-g004

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