Diffuse, intense lung uptake on a bone scan - A case report

Purpose: Clinical and scintigraphic findings are described in a patient with unexpected diffuse lung uptake on bone scan after a heroin overdose. Methods: The patient's Tc-99m MDP bone scan is reviewed along with the pertinent clinical history and laboratory findings. Results: Marked diffuse and symmetric lung uptake is present on bone scintigraphy in a patient with a history of acute renal failure and a markedly elevated calcium-phosphate product but normal renal function and laboratory values at the time of the examination. Conclusions: The incidental observation of metastatic calcification by bone scintigraphy is important, because it may aid in the diagnosis of a previously unsuggested elevated calcium-phosphate product, renal failure, or both. Furthermore, the intensity of tracer localization on bone tracer-specific imaging may help evaluate the activity of the metastatic calcification process.