Tracheobronchial Uptake on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT: An Incidental Finding

Authors

  • Inês Cardoso Ferreira Centro de Responsabilidade Integrado de Medicina Nuclear – Unidade Local de Saúde de Almada - Seixal, Almada, Portugal https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3391-5703
  • Olívia Leal Silva Centro de Responsabilidade Integrado de Medicina Nuclear – Unidade Local de Saúde de Almada - Seixal, Almada, Portugal
  • João Ramos Serviço de Urologia – Unidade Local de Saúde do Arco Ribeirinho, Barreiro, Portugal
  • Joaquim Geraldes Santos Centro de Responsabilidade Integrado de Medicina Nuclear – Unidade Local de Saúde de Almada - Seixal, Almada, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24915/aup.260

Keywords:

Gallium Radioisotopes, Positron-Emission Tomography Computed Tomography, Prostatic Neoplasms, Incidental Findings

Abstract

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT is widely used in prostate cancer evaluation but may show uptake in non-prostatic tissues. We report the case of a 69-year-old man with severe COPD and multiple comorbidities undergoing [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for rising PSA. Imaging revealed heterogeneous prostatic uptake and moderate diffuse tracheobronchial uptake, more intense on the left, along with cervicothoracic ganglia uptake. This case highlights tracheobronchial uptake as a potential pitfall, possibly related to physiologic PSMA expression, and underscores the need for awareness in patients with underlying pulmonary disease.

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References

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Osman MM, Subramaniam RM, Rowe SP, Hicks RJ, Perry E, Hofman MS. 18F-DCFP_.PSMA PET/CT tracheobronchial uptake in patients with prostate cancer: incidence and etiology. J Nucl Med. 2024;65:1383–6. doi:10.2967/jnumed.124.267772

Published

2025-12-09

Issue

Section

Case Report