Unusual case of occult Brucella osteomyelitis in the skull detected by bone scintigraphy

Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2010 Jun;44(2):161-3. doi: 10.1007/s13139-010-0023-2. Epub 2010 Apr 21.

Abstract

Brucellosis is a worldwide infectious disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans. Osteoarticular involvement is the most common complication of brucellosis. A 47-year-old man, who was a stockbreeder, complained of myalgia with fever and chills for 2 weeks. The serology titers and blood cultures for brucellosis were positive. Bone scintigraphy demonstrated a focally increased uptake in the left supraorbital area. Plain radiographs showed an osteolytic lesion, and an MRI revealed signal abnormalities in the corresponding site. We present an unususal case of occult Brucella osteomyelitis in the frontal bone of the skull detected by bone scintigraphy.

Keywords: Bone scintigraphy; Brucellosis; Osteomyelitis; Tc-99m MDP.