Positron Emission Tomography in Intussusception of Colon Cancer, Where Computed Tomography Failed

Acute abdominal pain developed in a 71-year-old man with a history of small-cell lung carcinoma with metastatic lymphadenopathy. Spiral computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed a 3-cm liver mass. Other-wise, the CT scan was interpreted as unremarkable. His abdominal pain resolved, and he was followed with a positron emission tomographic (PET) scan performed with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and a dedicated scanner (Advance NXI; GE, Milwaukee, WI) for further staging. In addition to his active lung cancer in the left lower lobe with lymphadenopathy and a liver mass, a mass with high uptake of F-18 FDG was also detected in the transverse colon. In retrospect, the CT of the abdomen showed a colocolic intussusception that was not detected initially. The patient underwent a colonoscopy, and the colon mass was revealed to be a synchronous primary colon adenocarcinoma. This case illustrates the utility of PET and its superior sensitivity in detecting cancer.