Incidental detection of skeletal metastases on technetium-99m DTPA renal scintigraphy

A case is presented where skeletal metastases from a prostate carcinoma were detected during 99mTc DTPA scintigraphy performed for evaluation of renal function. The lumbar vertebrae in camera field of view were intensely perfused on the arterial phase of the radionuclide flow study. Tracer pooling in these vertebrae, visualized on initial serial images, progressively faded over the 30 minute study. Widespread areas of increased radionuclide uptake, consistent with skeletal metastases, were detected on 99mTc MDP bone imaging performed two days later. Subsequent prostatic biopsy revealed a well differentiated primary adenocarcinoma.