technetium-tc-99m-medronate and Aortitis

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