Solitary increased tibial uptake of 99mTc-diphosphonate unmasking pancreatic tumor-related medullary fat necrosis

Pancreatic inflammation and tumors can induce various systemic lesions of steatonecrosis. We report here the case of a 73-year-old woman presenting a painful left leg. Roentgenograms and tomograms of the left tibia were normal. Radionuclide bone scan showed diffuse increased uptake in the whole tibia and a CT scan of the same region demonstrated an unusual pattern of bone tumor. Tibial biopsy revealed intra medullary steatonecrosis and led to the discovery of a pancreatic carcinoma. (orig.)