Spinal uptake mimicking metastasis in SPECT/CT bone scan in a patient with superior vena cava obstruction

Clin Nucl Med. 2013 Nov;38(11):908-9. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e3182a20daa.

Abstract

A 46-year-old female patient with a mediastinal neuroendocrine carcinoma complicated by superior vena cava syndrome was referred for a bone metastatic workup. Bone scan with SPECT/CT showed several vertebral fixations without alterations on the unenhanced CT, but a CT scan with injection of contrast media showed vertebral densities matched to the lesions described on the SPECT/CT. This pattern confirmed presence of collateral paths through vertebral veins due to superior vena cava syndrome. Lack of metastases was confirmed by MRI.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Spine / diagnostic imaging*
  • Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*