J Korean Soc Radiol.  2010 Jul;63(1):69-73. 10.3348/jksr.2010.63.1.69.

Multifocal Skeletal Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastasis Involving the Sternum, Lumbar Vertebra, and Sacrum

• Kim JH
• Cho SG
• Kim KH
• Kim YJ
• Hyun IY
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2208889
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2010.63.1.69

Abstract

The incidence of multifocal skeletal tuberculosis is very rare and its diagnosis, very difficult because of vague somatic symptoms and non-specific physical and radiologic findings. We report a case of multifocal skeletal tuberculosis mimicking metastasis.

MeSH Terms

Incidence
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Neoplasm Metastasis
Sacrum
Spine
Sternum
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A 50-year-old woman presented with pain and tenderness on the mid anterior chest wall for 1 month. A. Axial image reveals soft tissue lesion in sternal body with cortical destruction (arrow). B, C. CT scan shows soft tissue component with osteolytic change involving L1 body and sacrum (arrow).

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  Fig. 2 Bone scintigraphy shows increased uptake in the body of sternum, and sacrum (black arrows).

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  Fig. 3 A-C. CT-PET scan demonstrates strong FDG uptake in the sternum, L1 body, and sacrum (arrow).

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  Fig. 4 A, B. Follow-up CT scan after 4years shows nearly normalized sternal body, L1 body, and sacrum (arrow).

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