Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026
Gene Regulation and Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis: Radiological Findings from Dual Energy CT and PET/CT
Published on: January 22, 2018
Schmorl Nodes Can Cause Increased 68Ga DOTATATE Activity on PET/CT, Mimicking Metastasis in Patients With
Georgios Z Papadakis1, Corina Millo, Ulas Bagci
1From the *Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, and †Division of Nuclear Medicine, RAD&IS, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; ‡Center for Research in Computer Vision, Electrical and Computer Science Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL; §Endocrine Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute; and ∥Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Program on Developmental Endocrinology & Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
Abstract:
Schmorl node (SN) is the herniation of the nucleus pulposus through the cartilaginous and bony endplate into the adjacent vertebral body. It is documented that SNs produce areas of moderately increased F-FDG uptake. We present a case of a patient with history of neuroendocrine tumor, who underwent Ga DOTATATE PET/CT for follow-up, showing increased focal vertebral uptake suggestive of bone metastasis. CT revealed typical findings of an SN. The presented case indicates that SNs should be considered when encountering focally increased skeletal uptake in Ga DOTATATE PET/CT studies, which can mimic metastasis in patients with history of neuroendocrine tumors.
