technetium-tc-99m-medronate and Polychondritis--Relapsing

A 48-year-old man with progressive respiratory symptoms was suspected of having relapsing polychondritis (RPC). A 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy showed only mild activity in the bilateral costal cartilage. In contrast, 18F-fluoride PET/CT revealed intense radioactivity accumulation in the tracheal cartilages. Biopsy results from tracheal cartilage were consistent with a diagnosis of RPC. The patient received therapy toward RPC, and his symptoms was gradually alleviated.

Topics: Fluorine Radioisotopes; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multimodal Imaging; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trachea

Topics: Adult; Bone and Bones; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Relapsing polychondritis is a generalized recurring disease of cartilage that involves joints, trachea, bronchi, laryngeal cartilages, costal cartilages, and cartilages of the ear and nose. It is associated with autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto disease in some cases.. The authors evaluated a 29-year-old man with relapsing polychondritis who had symptoms and signs of a common cold for 2 months and anterior chest pain near the sternum for 1 month.. After the diagnosis, the authors found that the patient had a history of thyroid therapy for hyperthyroidism 15 years before. Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy performed to evaluate anterior chest pain showed diffusely increased accumulation of radioactivity in all costocartilages and sternoclavicular joints. Based on that information, relapsing polychondritis was diagnosed. Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy was preformed to determine the optimum biopsy site of the cartilage. The diagnosis was histologically supported by the results of the open biopsy.. In this case, Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy was useful for diagnosing relapsing polychondritis, and Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy was helpful in determining the biopsy site.

Topics: Adult; Bone and Bones; Cartilage; Chest Pain; Citrates; Common Cold; Gallium; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Male; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Sternoclavicular Joint; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Topics: Bone and Bones; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Topics: Bone and Bones; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Relapsing polychondritis is a progressive multisystem disorder that predominantly affects cartilage, producing an inflammatory reaction. The scintigraphic findings of technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scan is a case of relapsing polychondritis are described and discussed.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

A patient with relapsing polychondritis and increased uptake on bone scintigraphy (using 99mTc-MDP) in the cartilagenous parts of the ribs, the sternum and in the larynx region is described. A biopsy of a costochondral junction (where uptake on the bone scan was increased) was compatible with relapsing polychondritis. After treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine the patient improved and a repeated bone scan (after six years) showed less intensive uptake.

Topics: Cartilage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate