title: Bertolotti Syndrome Demonstrated on 18F-NaF PET/CT.
abstract: Bertolotti syndrome is a form of low-back pain associated with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae. We report a case of a 34-year-old woman with breast cancer presented with severe low-back pain. F-NaF PET/CT demonstrates increased radiotracer uptake at the transverse-sacral articulation corresponding to hemisacralized left transverse process of L5 vertebra. Increased tracer uptake in patients with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae seems to correlate with lower-back pain symptoms. F-NaF PET/CT can be useful in evaluation of some uncommon causes of low-back pain. Bertolotti syndrome should always be included in the differential diagnosis of lower-back pain in young patients.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC), Kuwait; and †Jack Brignall PET/CT Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sharjeel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usmani
authors.forename: Najeeb
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marafi
authors.forename: Fareeda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al Kandari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D012969:Sodium Fluoride