European Journal of Hybrid Imaging (Mar 2023)

Now you see me: lights on Merkel Cell Carcinoma

  • Cristiano Pini,
  • Giovanni Matassa,
  • Fabrizia Gelardi,
  • Lidija Antunovic

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41824-023-00164-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 5

Abstract

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Abstract Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a rare primary cutaneous cancer with aggressive behaviour and poor prognosis. Although MCC cells express somatostatin receptors (SSTR), SSTR-targeted PET/CT is not routinely performed in clinical practice. In contrast, the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT is more widespread and its prognostic role is well established. We present the case of an MCC patient suspected recurrence who underwent restaging with both [18F]FDG and [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET/CT. [18F]FDG PET/CT showed pathological uptake only in mediastinal lymph nodes, but SSTR imaging also revealed multiple liver and skeletal metastases, leading to significant disease upstaging and relevant changes in the therapeutic management.