Bone imaging in SAPHO syndrome

Síndrome SAPHO

We report two cases, one 23 and one 27 year old man, with several years background of sternal and sternoclavicular joints pain, respectively. The laboratory tests were normal. Based on the clinical, radiologic and scintigraphic findings, SAPHO syndrome was diagnosed. Bone scintigraphy makes it possible to obtain a whole body scan in a single whole body scan, and can be used for differential diagnosis of other osteoarticular diseases and for evolutive control and therapeutic response.

[SAPHO syndrome. Scintigraphic and radiologic findings]

We present the case of a 39 year old woman with a several year long history of palmoplantar pustulosis and occasional pain in the anterior wall of the thorax, lumbar spine and both sacroiliac joints. As a consequence of low grade fever, severe sternoclavicular pain and discomfort and swelling in the first left rib arches, the patient was admitted to hospital. Based on the clinical, radiologic, scintigraphic and cutaneous findings, the SAPHO syndrome was diagnosed. Bone scintigraphy is an accurate and early diagnostic test for this syndrome which also provides the advantage of being able to obtain a whole body scan.