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Intense 99mTc-MDP and 18F-NaF Activity in Long-standing Subcutaneous Implants
Li Chen1, Yue Chen, Zhanwen Huang
1From the Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliate Hospital of Southwest University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine
|August 5, 2016
Summary
Presurgical imaging revealed unexpected intense activity in a breast cancer patient. This activity was traced to calcified subcutaneous implants, highlighting the importance of patient history in interpreting scans.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine
- Medical imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer required presurgical imaging.
- Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in cancer staging and treatment planning.
Observation:
- Whole-body imaging using Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) showed intense activity in the upper abdomen and thoracic spine.
- Fluorine-18 sodium fluoride (F-18 NaF) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) confirmed elevated activity in the same locations.
Findings:
- The intense activity on both Tc-99m MDP and F-18 NaF PET/CT scans was attributed to calcified subcutaneous implants.
- These implants had been in place for over 30 years, predating the current cancer diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for old implants to cause false-positive findings in bone scintigraphy and PET/CT.
- Radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians must consider patient history, including the presence of foreign bodies, when interpreting imaging studies.
- Awareness of artifactual uptake from calcified implants can prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary investigations.
