Image findings of rare case of gestational breast cancer diagnosed in a lactating women with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography

Abstract

Gestational or pregnancy-associated breast cancer is defined as breast cancer that is diagnosed during pregnancy, in the first postpartum year, or any time during lactation. We report rare imaging findings of a breast cancer seen on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) study in a 32-year-old lactating woman. The FDG PET/CT study demonstrated uptake in the soft tissue lesion noted in the right breast corresponding to primary lesion and multiple nodes in bilateral axilla, right supraclavicular and mediastinum. In addition, there was FDG tracer uptake in both the breast parenchyma-related to breast feeding. This case illustrates the first case of breast cancer in a lactating woman detected by FDG PET/CT.

Keywords

• Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography
• gestational breast cancer
• lactating breast uptake
• staging