Lung cancer metastasis mimicking fingertip osteomyelitis: An 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography study

Abstract

Lung cancer commonly metastasizes to ipsilateral and contralateral lungs, to mediastinal lymph nodes, to skeletal level, to brain, and to adrenal gland. It is indeed very rare to find skeletal metastases at the extremities, especially at the onset of the disease. We share the case of a 53-year-old man with dyspnea and pain at the level of the first finger of the left hand under antibiotic treatment for suspected osteomyelitis. 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography showed the presence of a left lung lesion with multiple localizations at muscles and bones.

Metastatic Disease Mimicking Osteomyelitis in the Foot

“…Skeletal scintigraphy or 18F-FDG PET/CT is commonly used to identify bone metastases. X-rays, CT scans, and MRI can also be used to evaluate lesions found on skeletal surveys or FDG PET/CT to help differentiate inflammation or osteoporotic lesions from metastasis [9][10][11]. Osteomyelitis may also appear different in imaging based on chronicity.…”