Alpha-fetoprotein-elevated postpubertal testicular teratoma with retroperitoneal metastasis on 18F-FDG PET/CT: case report and literature review

Postpubertal testicular teratoma exhibits malignant biological behavior and has metastatic potential. We report a case of a 17-year-old patient diagnosed with postpubertal testicular teratoma with massive retroperitoneal metastasis. The pathological examination revealed a mature teratoma without any...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in medicine 2023-09, Vol.10
Main Authors: Jiao, Hao, Qiu, Yongkang, Huang, Wenpeng, Zhang, Yongbai, Chen, Zhao, Wang, Aixiang, Kang, Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
18F-FDG
alpha-fetoprotein
Medicine
PET/CT
postpubertal testicular teratoma
retroperitoneal metastasis
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Summary:Postpubertal testicular teratoma exhibits malignant biological behavior and has metastatic potential. We report a case of a 17-year-old patient diagnosed with postpubertal testicular teratoma with massive retroperitoneal metastasis. The pathological examination revealed a mature teratoma without any other components. However, the patient had a significantly increased level of AFP, and 18 F-FDG PET/CT showed the retroperitoneal metastasis had increased FDG uptake, with a SUVmax of 15.6, suggesting the coexistence of other germ cell tumor components, and the patient might have a poor prognosis. After resection of the retroperitoneal tumor, PET/CT further revealed multiple abdominal and pelvic metastases, with a SUVmax of 22.5. Therefore, the patient received a cycle of chemotherapy and follow-up PET/CT imaging showed the achievement of complete metabolic response after the treatment. In this case, PET/CT played a crucial role in detecting metastasis, compensating for the limitations of pathological sampling, thus establishing a definitive diagnosis and predicting prognosis. And it was evident that PET/CT also has the advantage of evaluating therapeutic efficacy.
ISSN:2296-858X
2296-858X
DOI:10.3389/fmed.2023.1269587