The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare and highly aggressive malignancy associated with a poor prognosis. Breast spindle cell carcinoma is a subtype of metaplastic carcinoma. We present the case of a 48-year-old woman who was found to have a breast nodule during a routine examinati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Taiping Liao, Guoxu Fu, Lingxiao Li, Qinlin Qi, Li Li, Yongjun Long
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1521361/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850185667226632192
author Taiping Liao
Guoxu Fu
Lingxiao Li
Qinlin Qi
Li Li
Yongjun Long
author_facet Taiping Liao
Guoxu Fu
Lingxiao Li
Qinlin Qi
Li Li
Yongjun Long
author_sort Taiping Liao
collection DOAJ
description Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare and highly aggressive malignancy associated with a poor prognosis. Breast spindle cell carcinoma is a subtype of metaplastic carcinoma. We present the case of a 48-year-old woman who was found to have a breast nodule during a routine examination two years ago. Pathological examination following surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis of breast spindle cell carcinoma. One year later, a follow-up CT scan detected a progressively enlarging mass in the left lower lobe of the lung, which was histologically confirmed as metastatic breast spindle cell carcinoma after surgical excision. Recently, the patient developed chest discomfort and severe left thigh pain, prompting an18F-FDG PET/CT scan, which revealed metastases to the lung, heart, pleura, and femur. Subsequently, the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly within a short period. This report highlights the rare imaging findings of cardiac metastasis following surgery for breast spindle cell carcinoma, underscoring the highly aggressive nature of this tumor and the pivotal role of18F-FDG PET/CT in the post-operative monitoring of patients with breast spindle cell carcinoma.
format Article
id doaj-art-25d2b7b0ffb0406ca46aec007218d5aa
institution OA Journals
issn 2234-943X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-25d2b7b0ffb0406ca46aec007218d5aa2025-08-20T02:16:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-04-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15213611521361The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case reportTaiping LiaoGuoxu FuLingxiao LiQinlin QiLi LiYongjun LongMetaplastic carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare and highly aggressive malignancy associated with a poor prognosis. Breast spindle cell carcinoma is a subtype of metaplastic carcinoma. We present the case of a 48-year-old woman who was found to have a breast nodule during a routine examination two years ago. Pathological examination following surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis of breast spindle cell carcinoma. One year later, a follow-up CT scan detected a progressively enlarging mass in the left lower lobe of the lung, which was histologically confirmed as metastatic breast spindle cell carcinoma after surgical excision. Recently, the patient developed chest discomfort and severe left thigh pain, prompting an18F-FDG PET/CT scan, which revealed metastases to the lung, heart, pleura, and femur. Subsequently, the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly within a short period. This report highlights the rare imaging findings of cardiac metastasis following surgery for breast spindle cell carcinoma, underscoring the highly aggressive nature of this tumor and the pivotal role of18F-FDG PET/CT in the post-operative monitoring of patients with breast spindle cell carcinoma.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1521361/full18FFDGPET/CTmetaplastic breast carcinomacardiac metastasis
spellingShingle Taiping Liao
Guoxu Fu
Lingxiao Li
Qinlin Qi
Li Li
Yongjun Long
The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report
Frontiers in Oncology
18F
FDG
PET/CT
metaplastic breast carcinoma
cardiac metastasis
title The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report
title_full The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report
title_fullStr The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report
title_full_unstemmed The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report
title_short The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting rare post-surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma: a case report
title_sort role of 18f fdg pet ct in detecting rare post surgical cardiac metastasis of metaplastic breast carcinoma a case report
topic 18F
FDG
PET/CT
metaplastic breast carcinoma
cardiac metastasis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1521361/full
work_keys_str_mv AT taipingliao theroleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT guoxufu theroleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT lingxiaoli theroleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT qinlinqi theroleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT lili theroleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT yongjunlong theroleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT taipingliao roleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT guoxufu roleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT lingxiaoli roleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT qinlinqi roleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT lili roleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport
AT yongjunlong roleof18ffdgpetctindetectingrarepostsurgicalcardiacmetastasisofmetaplasticbreastcarcinomaacasereport