Former HER2-positive (IHC 3+) patient with suspected recurrence

A 35-year-old woman, had a complex medical journey involving a former diagnosis of HER2-positive invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer.

In 2017, she was diagnosed with HER2-positive IDC (IHC 3+), fortunately she achieved complete remission after treatment. Later in the same year, a new challenge emerged as Priya was diagnosed with tuberculosis, necessitating treatment with tuberculostatic agents.

By 2020, there was a concerning rise in the tumor marker CA 15.3, prompting an in vivo diagnostic with FDG-PET, which revealed multiple lesions. A second in vivo diagnostic was performed, but this time with ABSCINT-HER2 PET/CT, which surprisingly showed no HER2 lesions. This prompted further investigation.

A following biopsy, targeting a pleural lesion, yielded no tumoral tissue. Instead, the findings indicated granulomatosis with non-caseating granuloma, pointing towards inflammation.

In conclusion, the specificity of ABSCINT-HER2 became evident as it ruled out HER2 lesions. This played a crucial role in redirecting the diagnosis towards tuberculosis rather than cancer, emphasizing the importance of precise diagnostics in unraveling complex medical cases. The journey of Priya underscores the multidimensional nature of medical challenges and the instrumental role of advanced imaging tools in achieving accurate diagnoses.