Title:PET/CT Examination of Teratomas after Stem Cell Transplantation for a
Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report
Volume: 20
Author(s): Xiao-tong Chi, Jun Tian, Xiu-yi Zhao, Xiao-yan Zhang, Chen Xu and Kai Deng*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital Of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan,
Shandong 250014, China
Keywords:
PET/CT, Teratoma, Stem cell transplantation, Spinal cord injury, Case report, Imaging. Article
Abstract:
Background:
In clinical practice, stem cell transplantation has become an effective method for treating spinal cord nerve injury. Up to now, there has been no
report on teratoma caused by transplanted stem cell’s abnormal differentiation in the clinic, especially in the analysis of imaging manifestations.
Therefore, this article aims to analyze the PET/CT imaging manifestations of teratoma caused by stem cell transplantation to improve the imaging
diagnosing capability.
Case Presentation:
A patient with a spinal cord injury who had received a stem cell transplant was examined by PET/CT on September 10th, 2020. The PET/CT
images of the lesion showed irregular mixed low density on the right side of the erector spinae muscle area at the level of the cervical 3-5 vertebral
body, with a maximum cross-section of 9.1×3.9 cm. The 18F-FDG metabolism of the lesion was increased, and the maximum standard uptake value
(SUVmax) was 10.7. The boundary was unclear with the third cervical vertebra and cervical 3 and 4-level vertebral plates. Based on the patient’s
medical history, the lesion was diagnosed as an abnormal proliferative tumor, which was consistent with the pathological examination results.
Conclusion:
To date, there have been no clinical reports on teratomas caused by stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury at home or abroad. This case
report enhances the knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment methods of this type of disease and confirms the diagnostic value of PET/CT
examination.