Fascial Tc-99m MDP uptake in eosinophilic fasciitis as demonstrated by SPECT.
BACKGROUND
The presence of bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical uptake in extraskeletal tissues of the lower or upper extremities may indirectly reflect the presence of active inflammatory lesions in patients in whom systemic disease is suspected.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
The authors present the case of a 26-year-old woman who had mixed signs of scleroderma and cosinophilic fasciitis, in whom misleading findings on planar bone scintigraphy suggested diffuse muscular tracer uptake in the lower extremities.


RESULTS
However, using additional SPECT imaging of the pelvis and thighs, it was shown that the soft tissue radioactivity was clearly restricted to the fascia overlying the muscles. The fascial localization of the inflammation was confirmed by biopsy.


CONCLUSION
SPECT imaging was proven useful in indicating the exact localization of an active inflammatory process in the muscle fascia.