Uptake of bone imaging agents by diffuse pulmonary metastatic calcification

Abstract

Three cases of diffuse lung uptake of the bone scanning agent 99mTc diphosphonate, which appears to reflect metastatic pulmonary calcification, are described. Each patient had hypercalcemia and renal failure. Clinical features common to patients with this scan pattern were ascertained from a review of the literature. Renal failure was present in all, and the majority have had hypercalcemia. The bone scan may prove to be a valuable adjunct to the diagnosis of metastatic pulmonary calcification; this characteristic pattern should be more widely appreciated.