Colon Visualization in Bone Scintigraphy: Case Report

Abstract

A woman with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, status post-irradiation therapy, was evaluated for skeletal metastasis. Technetium-99m hydroxy methylene diphosphonate bone images showed an area of abnormal radiotracer localization in the left abdomen corresponding to the descending colon. Contrast radiographic study using gastrograffin enema confirmed a large colovesical fistula between the sigmoid colon and the urinary bladder. We believe that the presence of radiotracer accumulation in the bowel during a routine bone scintigraphy suggests communication between the urinary collecting system and the bowel.