Pseudocirrhosis refers to a condition that shows changes in hepatic contour that mimic cirrhosis radiographically in the absence of the typical histopathological findings of cirrhosis. This condition has been observed in patients with cancer metastatic to the liver, both in those who have undergone prior systemic chemotherapy and those who have not. Pseudocirrhosis may cause difficulty in interpretation of the response to chemotherapy and hepatic decompression and complication of portal hypertension have a negative effect on the prognosis. We report on a case of breast cancer with liver metastases that showed cirrhotic changes during disease progression. Progression of liver metastases was confirmed by F18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT). We also performed ultrasound-guided liver biopsy and confirmed tumor infiltration with severe desmoplastic fibrosis. This case suggests the pathogenesis of pseudocirrhosis through histopathological findings and the role of PET-CT in evaluation of the response to chemotherapy in patients with pseudocirrhosis.
Background: To compare the diagnostic sensitivity of [ 18 F]fluoroestradiol ([ 18 F]FES) and [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for breast cancer recurrence in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive primary breast cancer. Methods: Our database of consecutive patients enrolled in a previous prospective cohort study to assess [ 18 F]FES PET/CT was reviewed to identify eligible patients who had ER-positive primary breast cancer with suspected first recurrence at presentation and who underwent [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT. The sensitivity of qualitative [ 18 F]FES and [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT interpretations was assessed, comparing them with histological diagnoses. Results: Of the 46 enrolled patients, 45 were confirmed as having recurrent breast cancer, while one was diagnosed with chronic granulomatous inflammation. Forty (89%) patients were ER-positive, four (9%) were ER-negative, and one (2%) patient did not undergo an ER assay. The sensitivity of [ 18 F]FES PET/CT was 71.1% (32/45, 95% CI, 55.7-83.6), while that of [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT was 80.0% (36/45, 95% CI, 65.4-90.4) with a threshold of positive interpretation, and 93.3% (42/ 45, 95% CI, 81.7-98.6) when a threshold of equivocal was used. There was no significant difference in sensitivity between [ 18 F]FES and [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT (P = 0.48) with a threshold of positive [ 18 F]FDG uptake, but the sensitivity of [ 18 F]FDG was significantly higher than [ 18 F]FES (P = 0.013) with a threshold of equivocal [ 18 F]FDG uptake. One patient with a benign lesion showed negative [ 18 F]FES but positive [ 18 F]FDG uptake.
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