Open AccessDiscordant Findings of Skeletal Metastasis Between Tc 99m MDP Bone Scans and F 18 FDG PET/CT Imaging for Advanced Breast and Lung Cancers—Two Case Reports and Literature Review
Author(s) -
Chen YuWen,
Huang MingYii,
Hsieh JanSing,
Hou MingFung,
Chou ShahHwa,
Lin ChihLiang
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/s1607-551x(08)70064-0
Subject(s) - medicine , positron emission tomography , metastasis , breast cancer , bone scintigraphy , bone marrow , bone metastasis , lung , nuclear medicine , radiology , lung cancer , fluorodeoxyglucose , cancer , pathology
Traditionally, Tc 99m methyl diphosphate (MDP) bone scintigraphy provides high‐sensitivity detection of skeletal metastasis from breast and lung cancers in regular follow‐up. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), based on the glucose metabolism of malignant cells, plays a role in describing rumor growth, proliferation of neoplasm and the extent of metastasis. In general, concordant findings of skeletal metastasis are seen on both types of image, especially in cases of breast and lung cancer. However, there were extremely discordant findings of skeletal metastasis between bone scans and F18 FDG PET/CT imaging in two cases among 300 consecutive F18 FDG PET/CT follow‐up exams of patients with malignancies, during the past year, in our center. Both cases, one of breast cancer and one of lung cancer, had negative bone scintigraphic findings, but a diffusely high grade of F18 FDG avid marrow infiltration in the axial spine, leading to the diagnosis of stage IV disease in both cases. Owing to variant genetic aberrance of malignance, F18 FDG PET/CT reveals direct evidence of diffuse, rapid neoplasm metabolism in the bone marrow of the spine, but not of secondary osteoblastic reactions in vivo. F18 FDG PET/CT should always be employed in the follow‐up of patients with malignancies.