Vertebral Burst Fracture

Fig.1: Posterior bone scan image shows a linear increased uptake at T12 (arrow) in an old patient with osteoporosis and low back pain.

Fig.2: Sagittal reformatted CT image reveals a burst fracture involving T12, corresponding with findings on bone scan.

Tc-99m MDP Bone Scan & Osteoporosis

• Bone scan may be helpful in symptomatic osteoporotic patients for identification of cause of back pain
• Negative bone scan rules out a recently occurred osteoporotic fracture
• Positive bone scan (hot spot) mandates further investigation to differentiate between degenerative change, fracture and malignancy
• Linear uptake (like in our case) usually indicates acute/subacute fracture.

Reference:

van Goethem J, van den Hauwe L, Parizel PM. Spinal imaging: diagnostic imaging of the spine and spinal cord, 2007.

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