Heterotopic bone formation (myositis ossificans) and lower-extremity swelling mimicking deep-venous disease.
A quadriplegic patient with a swollen leg was suspected of having deep-venous thrombosis, and was studied with radionuclide venography (RNV) and contrast venography. Focal narrowing of the femoral vein, seen on RNV, was due to extrinsic compression. Although soft-tissue radiographs were normal, Tc-99m diphosphonate imaging established the diagnosis of early heterotopic bone formation (myositis ossificans), which was responsible for the venous compression. Clinically this inflammatory process can mimic deep-venous thrombosis, and should be considered in evaluating patients at risk for both heterotopic bone formation and deep-venous thrombosis.
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004164:Diphosphonates; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009221:Myositis Ossificans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D004164:Diphosphonates; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C024226:technetium Tc 99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate; D013667:Technetium; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate