Displaced bladder stone mimics primary prostate cancer/bone metastasis, requiring a SPECT/CT whole-body bone scan for accurate diagnosis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.22034/irjnm.2025.130086.1692

Abstract

A 69-year-old male patient diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma underwent whole-body bone scintigraphy utilizing [99mTc]Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) for initial staging. During the procedure, an unexpected focal uptake of the radiotracer was noted, which appeared to resemble metastasis to the pubic bone or prostate cancer. However, this finding was ultimately determined to be due to a displaced bladder stone located within the prostatic urethra. This case highlights the importance of reviewing the patient's previous imaging studies, utilizing SPECT/CT imaging, and considering urinary tract stones as a potential differential diagnosis when abnormal radiotracer uptake is detected in the pelvic region below the bladder.

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References

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Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 December 2026

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