Persistent 99mTc-HDP uptake in a central venous catheter during bone scintigraphy

Czech version

Authors: Kamírová V. ¹; Bejtic M. ^1,2; Lang O. ¹; Lang M. ¹; Baron L. ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Prague Medical Care Department, s. r. o., Praha ¹; Fakulta biomedicínského inženýrství, České vysoké učení technické v Praze, Kladno, ČR ²
Published in: NuklMed 2026;15:40-45
Category: Casuistry

Overview

Bone scintigraphy with ^99mTc-HDP (hydroxymethylene diphosphonate) is a well-established and highly sensitive imaging modality for assessing osteoblastic activity in a wide spectrum of benign and malignant skeletal disorders. Despite its excellent diagnostic sensitivity, the technique is susceptible to various technical artifacts that may result in false-positive findings. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who underwent three-phase bone scintigraphy following administration of ^99mTc-HDP via peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC-Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter). Both early and delayed images demonstrated persistent linear tracer uptake corresponding to the course of the central venous catheter extending into the upper mediastinum. The probable mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, its differential diagnosis, and potential preventive strategies are discussed.

Keywords:

bone scintigraphy – nuclear medicine – central venous catheter – artifact – 99mTc-HDP

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Article was published in

Nuclear Medicine

2026 Issue 3