Growth Arrest Line Mimicking Lymphoma Involvement: The Findings of 99mTc-MDP Bone SPECT/CT and Serial Bone Scan in a Child with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Abstract

Growth arrest lines appear as dense sclerotic lines parallel to the growth plate of long bones on radiography. We describe the case of a 9-year-old female with growth arrest lines initially masquerading as lymphoma involvement on 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy who had been treated with chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma about 3 years previously. Subsequent regional bone SPECT/CT clearly diagnosed the growth arrest lines, and retrograde review of previous bone scintigraphy demonstrated line migration in this patient. Growth arrest lines should be considered a possible diagnosis on bone scintigraphy, especially in the surveillance of children who have experienced severe childhood infections, malnutrition, immobilization, or treatment with immunosuppressive or chemotherapeutic drugs that may inhibit bone growth.