Technetium-99m-MDP uptake in thyroid cartilage in invasive squamous-cell laryngeal carcinoma

A 36-yr-old male with a past history of invasive squamous-cell carcinoma of the larynx underwent 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy for the evaluation of lower back pain. The scan findings were unremarkable except for markedly and uniformly increased tracer uptake in the region of the thyroid cartilage, suggesting calcification and/or tumor invasion. Confirmation of significant pathology was obtained on tissue examination from a subsequent total laryngectomy demonstrating inflammatory infiltration and perichondrial invasion of the thyroid cartilage by carcinoma.