Insulin effect (PET-CT)

Case contributed by Jayanth Keshavamurthy
Diagnosis not applicable

Presentation

Newly diagnosed squamous cell lung cancer, PET-CT was ordered for staging

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Male
Nuclear medicine

Prior to the PET-CT the patient's initial blood glucose when checked was 220 mg/dL (12.2 mmol/L).

He was told to wait. But he went home and took insulin and came back. He did not tell us this.

His repeat blood glucose was <200 mg/dL (<11.1 mmol/L) and so PET-CT was done.

Key PET-CT findings

  • hypermetabolic left upper lung mass consistent with biopsy-proven lung cancer
  • increased FDG uptake in all the skeletal muscles due to insulin effect

Case Discussion

After the PET-CT was completed the patient was informed about the insulin effect appearances.
He admitted to taking insulin to bring his glucose below 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L).

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.