technetium-tc-99m-medronate and Aortic-Aneurysm--Abdominal

Infected aortic aneurysm is an uncommon life-threatening disease. A 68-year-old man had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and repeated urinary tract infections. He presented with fever, chills, low back pain, leukocytosis, and Salmonella group B bacteremia. For evaluation of suspected lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis, a 3-phase bone scan and a gallium-67 scan were performed. An abdominal aortic aneurysm was noted incidentally on the blood flow and blood pool phase images. Gallium-67 scan demonstrated increased radioactivity within the soft tissues surrounding the aneurysm, which was suggestive of an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm. The previously unsuspected infected abdominal aortic aneurysm was confirmed by computed tomography.

Topics: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Aortitis; Citrates; Gallium; Humans; Male; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Salmonella Infections; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a rare event, making its diagnosis difficult. A delayed diagnosis and delayed surgical repair compromise the outcome. In this paper the authors report the case of a chronic contained rupture of an AAA causing spinal destruction, in which diagnosis was difficult because the lesion produced symptoms mimicking those of pyogenic spondylitis.

Topics: Aged; Aneurysm, Ruptured; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Chronic Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Ilium; Intervertebral Disc; Lumbar Vertebrae; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Radiopharmaceuticals; Spondylitis; Suppuration; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Topics: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Female; Hip Fractures; Humans; Radiography; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate