Thoracic cage uptake in bone scintigraphy secondary to lung abscess with extrapleural invasion

Bone scintigraphy has been shown to be a sensitive diagnostic tool for the early detection of skeleton pathology. The uptake of a bone-seeking agent depends on blood flow to the area and bone remodeling activity. Although this modality mainly aids in diagnosing bone disease, pathology in other tissues can also be demonstrated either as independent findings or as a result of their influence on adjacent bones. Further investigation by appropriate modalities can ensue. In the case presented here, mildly increased uptake in the ribs on bone scintigraphy led to the diagnosis of lung abscess by subsequent computed chest tomography.