Metastatic small cell lung cancer to bone - false negative CT lumbar spine

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell , 29 Dec 2013
Diagnosis certain
Changed by Tim Luijkx, 18 Nov 2015

Updates to Case Attributes

Race changed from Caucasian to .
Body was changed:

This study shows how insenstiveinsensitive CT can be for diffuse tumour infiltration of bone and highlights the fact that MRI is the investigation of choice for low back pain.  CT CT should be limited to investigation of acute trauma to the lumbar spine and for confirmation of suspected bone lesions as initially seen on MRI.

  • -<p>This study shows how insenstive CT can be for diffuse tumour infiltration of bone and highlights the fact that MRI is the investigation of choice for low back pain.  CT should be limited to investigation of acute trauma to the lumbar spine and for confirmation of suspected bone lesions as initially seen on MRI</p>
  • +<p>This study shows how insensitive CT can be for diffuse tumour infiltration of bone and highlights the fact that MRI is the investigation of choice for low back pain. CT should be limited to investigation of acute trauma to the lumbar spine and for confirmation of suspected bone lesions as initially seen on MRI.</p>
Diagnostic Certainty was set to .

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

CT for low back pain shows chronic bilateral pars defects of L5 with anterior spondylolithesisspondylolisthesis and secondary marked spondyloarthritisspondylarthritis at L5/S1.  No No abnormality seen in S1.

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

MRI performed as part of the pre-op workup by a spinal surgeon shows diffuse infiltration (replacement of normal bone marrow) of sacrum and left ilium with a pathological left ilial fracture presumed to be responsible for severe pain.

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