A complication of prolonged infusional chemotherapy masquerading as a bone metastasis in a patient with colorectal...

A patient with metastatic colorectal carcinoma to the liver, who was being treated with a continuous systemic infusion of floxuridine (FUDR) through a permanent indwelling central venous catheter, developed bone pain. Bone imaging showed abnormal findings, without evidence of metastatic disease progression elsewhere. The patient's complaints and the abnormality seen on the bone scan resolved with removal of the catheter and discontinuation of the systemic infusion. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations are discussed.