title: Focal spinal abnormalities on bone scans in ankylosing spondylitis: a clue to the presence of fracture or pseudarthrosis.
abstract: Four cases of ankylosing spondylitis are presented in which radionuclide bone studies indicated focal abnormalities of the spine. In three patients, the area of abnormal nuclide uptake corresponded to a site of pseudarthrosis, and in the fourth an acute fracture was present. As such focal lesions on bone scans are unusual in cases of chronic ankylosing spondylitis in which a complication is not apparent, their presence can be a useful finding.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D011756:Diphosphates; D004164:Diphosphonates; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013667:Technetium; D017556:Technetium Compounds; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
chemical_list: D011756:Diphosphates; D004164:Diphosphonates; D017556:Technetium Compounds; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate; D013667:Technetium; C029045:technetium Tc 99m diphosphonate