PMC4103486_01
PET/CT, performed after administration of 311 MBq of Fludoxyglucose, showed increased activity in the lower oesophagus (
a), liver metastasis (
b) and pancreatic metastasis (not shown in the picture).
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A PET/CT scan showed a thickening of the lower esophagus, supra- and sub-diaphragmatic adenomegalies and lesions in the liver, pancreas and lesser curvature of the stomach, all with hypermetabolic activities ( Figure 1).
Tumor cells detected in the ascitic fluid of the patient with the ultimate diagnosis of esophageal cancer (Papanicolaou stain, x1000).
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Both the first and second paracentesis revealed rare potential adenocarcinoma cells in clusters ( Figure 2), which were cytokeratins AE1/AE3, 7 and 19 positive.
Gallery of images of tumor cells in peripheral blood (left) and ascites (right) detected by CellSearch
  technology.. By definition, CTCs are nucleated (purple color), express cytokeratin (green color), and lack CD45 expression. Some of the CTCs in blood sample presented morphologically apoptotic features. Arrow, shrunken cell containing CK inclusions. But in the ascitic sample, positive cells were either isolated or in clusters and their morphology was very similar to that of CTCs in the peripheral blood though without apoptotic features.
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Interestingly, in the ascitic sample, positive cells were either isolated or in clusters and their morphology was very similar to that of CTCs in the peripheral blood though without apoptotic features ( Figure 3).