Bone scan revelation: rib lesion diagnosed as diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
• 18F-FDG PET/CT is standard for DLBCL staging, but other modalities may be used.
• Atypical presentations of DLBCL can lead to detection via alternative imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of DLBCL initially detected by bone scintigraphy.
• To illustrate the utility of bone scan with SPECT-CT in diagnosing atypical DLBCL presentations.

Main Methods:

• A solitary osseous lesion was detected using bone scan with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT).
• Diagnostic workup followed the initial imaging finding.

Main Results:

• The bone scan with SPECT-CT successfully identified an osseous lesion.
• This imaging finding led to a timely diagnosis and management of DLBCL.

Conclusions:

• Bone scintigraphy, including SPECT-CT, can be crucial in detecting DLBCL presenting atypically.
• This case underscores the importance of considering DLBCL in the differential diagnosis for osseous lesions found on bone scans.