CT and pathologic correlation of Tc-99m medronate splenic uptake in metastatic breast carcinoma

The CT and autopsy findings in a case of bone tracer uptake by a spleen infiltrated with metastatic breast carcinoma is presented. Calcium could not be demonstrated by either CT or special stains of histologic sections of the spleen. The mechanisms that have been postulated for radiotracer uptake by the spleen are reviewed in relationship to the correlation by this case. In addition, bone tracer uptake did not occur in five other sites of metastatic disease.