FDG PET/CT imaging of extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma of the adrenal gland.

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon malignancy. A 57-year-old man was referred because of a 1-month history of left lumbago. MR images showed an ovoid tumor in the left adrenal gland. FDG PET/CT showed intense FDG uptake of the left adrenal tumor with thrombosis of the left renal vein. The patient underwent left adrenalectomy and nephrectomy. Histopathology revealed typical adrenal SCC with neoplastic thrombosis of the left renal vein. This case suggests that FDG PET/CT is useful for staging of extrapulmonary SCC.