Scintigraphic findings of dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica - A case report

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica, a rare congenital growth disorder of the tarsus, was diagnosed radiographically in an 11-year-old boy with pain and a palpable hard mass in the medial aspect of his left ankle. Bone scintigraphy, performed after the intravenous injection of 481 MBq (13 mCi) Tc-99m MDP, showed markedly increased uptake in the medial aspect of the left ankle, and this uptake was comparable to that of the distal tibial growth plates. Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica is an osteocartilaginous overgrowth of one or more epiphyses or tarsal or carpal bones, involving either the medial or the lateral portion of the ossification center. Once dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica is diagnosed, a skeletal survey is performed to check for other sites of involvement. Bone scintigraphy proved useful in the detection of dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica and may be of great value because it can evaluate the entire skeleton with a radiation dose that is much lower than that needed for a skeletal survey.