18F-FDOPA PET/CT of Paraganglioma in the Spermatic Cord

A 53-year-old man with chronic kidney failure was referred to perform an F-18-FDOPA PET/CT to characterize a mass located on the right spermatic cord. Previously, the pathological analysis of CT-guided biopsies suggested paraganglioma or metastatic lesion of pheochromocytoma. Serum normetanephrine and serum metanephrine values were respectively 2- and 1.5-fold greater than the normal upper limit, which could be explained by the chronic kidney failure. PET/CT images revealed intense F-18-FDOPA uptake of the mass without any other pathological findings, suggesting the diagnosis of paraganglioma. Pathological examination of surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of paraganglioma of the spermatic cord, which is exceptional.

Automated summary

A 53-year-old man with chronic kidney failure underwent F-18-FDOPA PET/CT scan for a mass located on the right spermatic cord. Previous pathological analysis of CT-guided biopsies suggested paraganglioma or metastatic lesion of pheochromocytoma. Serum normetanephrine and serum metanephrine values were elevated, but could be explained by the chronic kidney failure. PET/CT images showed intense F-18-FDOPA uptake of the mass without any other pathological findings, suggesting the diagnosis of paraganglioma. Pathological examination of surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of paraganglioma of the spermatic cord, which is exceptional.