journal article
Open Access Collection
18FDG-PET at 1-Month Intervals Is a Better Predictive Marker for GISTs That Are Difficult to Be Diagnosed Histopathologically: A Case Report
Otsuka, Kazunori;Takahashi, Masahiro;Nanjo, Hiroshi;Miyazawa, Hideaki;Iida, Masatake;Abe, Yuki;Jin, Mario;Onishi, Hirohide;Hashimoto, Manabu;Yamamoto, Yuzo;Shibata, Hiroyuki
2011 Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
doi: 10.1155/2011/638794pmid: 22606444
Imatinib mesylate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of c-KIT and PDGFRA. Imatinib mesylate is an effective drug that can be used as a first-choice agent for treatment of GISTs. Prior to treatment, molecular diagnosis of c-KIT or PDGFRA is necessary; however, in some types of GISTs, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient amount of specimen for diagnosis. An inoperable or marginally resectable GIST in a 79-year-old female was difficult to be diagnosed at a molecular pathological level, and hence, exploratory treatment was initiated using imatinib combined with <sup>18</sup>FDG-PET evaluation at 1-month intervals. PET imaging indicated a positive response, and so we continued imatinib treatment in an NAC setting for 4 months. As a result, curative resection of the entire tumor was successfully performed with organ preservation and minimally invasive surgery. <sup>18</sup>FDG-PET evaluation at 1-month intervals is beneficial for GISTs that are difficult to be diagnosed histopathologically.