Chronic Venous Insufficiency Causing a Diagnostic Conundrum on Tc-99m Bone Scan Done for Osteosarcoma Surveillance: Awareness is the Key!

Bone scans are the most commonly used imaging technique to rule out local recurrence or metastasis during surveillance of malignant bone tumors after treatment. Although bone scans are very sensitive in detecting recurrence or metastasis, they are less specific. There are many nonmalignant conditions which can mimic either recurrence or metastasis on a Tc-99m bone scan. Therefore, physicians must be aware of such conditions to avoid unnecessary workup and invasive procedures. We present such an interesting case where chronic venous insufficiency mimicked either osteomyelitis or regional metastasis on a Tc-99m bone scan done for osteosarcoma surveillance.