18F-FDG uptake in metaphyseal growth arrest lines: a case study

Growth arrest lines (also referred to as Harris lines) refer to dense metaphyseal trabecular lines, perpendicular to the long axis of the bone. The phenomenon is seen only in patients with immature skeletal structure after periods of nutritional insufficiency, illness, and prolonged immobilization or bisphosphonates administration during which bone growth is inhibited. With resumption of bone growth, a dense trabecular line becomes visible, typically at the metaphyses of rapidly growing long bone. We describe 18F-FDG uptake in the growth arrest lines of a 7-year-old boy treated for left distal tibial osteosarcoma.