Histopathological Confirmed Polycythemia Vera with Transformation to Myelofibrosis Depicted on [18F]FDG PET/CT

TL;DR

A case study shows how PET/CT imaging can detect the progression of polycythemia vera to myelofibrosis.

Contribution

This case highlights the utility of [18F]FDG PET/CT in identifying myelofibrosis transformation in polycythemia vera.

Findings

PET/CT imaging showed intense bone marrow and spleen metabolic activity in a PV patient.

Bone marrow biopsy confirmed transformation to myelofibrosis despite initial PV diagnosis.

The case illustrates the potential of PET/CT for monitoring PV progression.

Abstract

We present a case of a 59-year-old male diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV) for many years, who presented with a relatively abrupt onset of heavy constitutional symptoms, including fatigue, night sweats, and a 10% weight loss over 6 weeks. Despite the known initial diagnosis of PV, the presence of profound B-symptoms prompted further investigation. A positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) was performed to exclude malignant diseases. The [18F]FDG PET/CT revealed intense metabolic activity in the bone marrow of the proximal extremities and trunk skeleton, as well as a massively enlarged spleen with increased metabolic activity. Histopathologically, a transformation to myelofibrosis was revealed on a bone marrow biopsy. The case intends to serve as an exemplification for [18F]FDG PET/CT in PV with transformation to myelofibrosis (post-PV myelofibrosis).

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