TECHNETIUM-99M-MDP UPTAKE IN THYROID CARTILAGE IN INVASIVE SQUAMOUS-CELL LARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

A 36-yr-old male with a past history of invasive squamous-cell carcino ma of the larynx underwent Tc-99m-MDP scintigraphy for the evaluation of lower back pain. The scan findings were unremarkable except for mar kedly and uniformly increased tracer uptake in the region of the thyro id cartilage, suggesting calcification and/or tumor invasion. Confirma tion of significant pathology was obtained on tissue examination from a subsequent total laryngectomy demonstrating inflammatory infiltratio n and perichondrial invasion of the thyroid cartilage by carcinoma.