Osteoarthritis

 

Patient History:
A 74 year-old female was complaining of pelvic pain during the follow-up of breast cancer. The patient was then referred to Nuclear Medicine.

Findings:
99mTc-HDP whole body bone scan using the Infinia Hawkeye gamma camera revealed focal increased tracer uptakes on the lumbar spine and the sternum. The question was raised to differentiate the lesions between osteoarthritis or metastases from an
unknown primary cancer.

 
 
CT Hawkeye                       SPECT                       Fused Image
 
Lesion at the edge of the vertebral body (transverse slices, Infinia Hawkeye)
 
Findings:
An abdominal and pelvic SPECT/CT scan was then performed. Bone SPECT confirmed the spinal lesions in the lumbar area, with an intense tracer uptake. CT Hawkeye images revealed high density lesions at the edge of the vertebral bodies. Fused images demonstrated perfect correlation between CT and SPECT lesions.

Conclusion:
Final diagnosis was then osteoarthritis

Images courtesy of:
Clinique Saint Jean of Brussels,
Brussels, Belgium

 
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