Bone scan findings in calcific tendinitis at the gluteus maximus insertion: some illustrative cases

Karel Van Damme; Liesbeth De Coster; Koen Mermuys; Anja Van den Eeckhaut; Natascha Walgraeve; Frank De Geeter

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2016.11.009

Bone scan findings in calcific tendinitis at the gluteus maximus insertion: some illustrative cases

Radiol Case Rep. 2017 Jan 17;12(1):168-174. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2016.11.009. eCollection 2017 Mar.

Authors

Karel Van Damme¹, Liesbeth De Coster¹, Koen Mermuys², Anja Van den Eeckhaut¹, Natascha Walgraeve¹, Frank De Geeter¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende Belgium, Ruddershove 10, Brugge 8000, Belgium.
² Department of Radiology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende Belgium, Ruddershove 10, Brugge 8000, Belgium.

Abstract

We describe the bone scan and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography findings in calcific tendinitis of the gluteus maximus and discuss its pathophysiology. Although this tendinopathy is mostly self-limiting, awareness of this disease is important for 2 reasons. First, it may explain acute hip symptoms in patients in the resorptive phase of the calcifications. Second, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis for bone scan hot spots in the vicinity of the gluteus maximus tendon and for cortical erosion seen in that region on X-rays or CT.

Keywords: Calcific tendinitis; Calcium deposits; Gluteus maximus; Hydroxyapatite deposition disease; SPECT/CT; Tendinopathy.

Publication types

Case Reports