Multifocal post-traumatic scintigraphic changes mimicking bone metastases in a battered adult
N A Kazem1, A A Esmail, A H Elgazzar
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait.
The Gulf Journal of Oncology
|January 21, 2010
Summary
Multiple instances of heterotopic bone formation can mimic bone metastases on scans. This case highlights multifocal heterotopic ossification and fractures presenting as metastatic disease on bone scans.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Orthopedics
- Pathology
Background:
- Scintigraphic patterns resembling multiple bony metastases can arise from various pathologies.
- Heterotopic bone formation is a known mimic of inflammatory and neoplastic conditions, including recurrent tumors.
Observation:
- A young adult presented with a bone scan pattern suggestive of widespread bony metastases.
- The patient had a history of repeated physical assaults over a one-month period.
Findings:
- The observed scintigraphic pattern was attributed to multifocal heterotopic bone formation.
- Simultaneously, fractures were identified as contributing factors to the scan's appearance.
Implications:
- This case expands the differential diagnosis for metastatic-like patterns on bone scans.
- It underscores the importance of considering trauma and heterotopic ossification in the interpretation of bone scans, especially in specific clinical contexts.
