Renal lithiasis demonstrated by Technetium 99m MDP bone scintigraphy

Learning Objectives 1. To present the imaging features suggestive of renal lithiasis on routine technetium 99m MDP bone scintigraphy, and 2. To stress the importance of correlation between bone scan and existing conventional radiology to firmly establish the diagnosis of renal stones.

Technetium 99m MDP bone scintigraphy is frequently performed for the comprehensive evaluation of osseous metastasis or acute bone injury not fully assessed by radiography or computed tomography. Information from functional kidneys is readily available to imagers on bone scan and should be fully exploited. This exhibit presents a case series of renal lithiasis at different locations of the urinary system demonstrated by bone scintigraphy. For each instance of renal stone uptake, features and clues suggestive of this diagnosis are reviewed and discussed. This exhibit also presents the potential mechanisms of tracer distribution to renal stones and emphasizes the need for imaging correlation between nuclear medicine and available conventional radiology to detect renal lithiasis