Detection of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy of skeletal imaging with 99mTc-labeled diphosphonate.

In two patients with carcinoma of the lung, abnormal findings on skeletal imaging using 99mTc-diphosphonate correctly suggested the diagnosis of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, which was later confirmed radiographically. A scintigraphic pattern of abnormal tracer localization distinguishes this benign condition of bone from bony metastases.