The EANM guideline for radiosynoviorthesis.

PURPOSE: Radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) using the intraarticular application of beta-particle emitting radiocolloids has for decades been used for the local treatment of inflammatory joint diseases. The injected radiopharmaceuticals are phagocytized by the superficial macrophages of the synovial membrane, resulting in sclerosis and fibrosis of the formerly inflamed tissue, finally leading to reduced joint effusion and alleviation of joint pain. METHODS: The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) has written and approved these guidelines in tight collaboration with an international team of clinical experts, including rheumatologists. Besides clinical and procedural aspects, different national legislative issues, dosimetric considerations, possible complications, and side effects are addressed. CONCLUSION: These guidelines will assist nuclear medicine physicians in performing radiosynoviorthesis. Since there are differences regarding the radiopharmaceuticals approved for RSO and the official indications between several European countries, this guideline can only give a framework that must be adopted individually.

The EANM practice guidelines for bone scintigraphy.

PURPOSE: The radionuclide bone scan is the cornerstone of skeletal nuclear medicine imaging. Bone scintigraphy is a highly sensitive diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses a radiotracer to evaluate the distribution of active bone formation in the skeleton related to malignant and benign disease, as well as physiological processes. METHODS: The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) has written and approved these guidelines to promote the use of nuclear medicine procedures of high quality. CONCLUSION: The present guidelines offer assistance to nuclear medicine practitioners in optimizing the diagnostic procedure and interpreting bone scintigraphy. These guidelines describe the protocols that are currently accepted and used routinely, but do not include all existing procedures. They should therefore not be taken as exclusive of other nuclear medicine modalities that can be used to obtain comparable results. It is important to remember that the resources and facilities available for patient care may vary.

(99m)Tc-Fab' fragments (sulesomab) for imaging septically loosened total knee arthroplasty.

The diagnostic accuracy of infection scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-labelled monoclonal antibody Fab' fragments (sulesomab) was studied in patients with suspected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) infection. Images from 26 patients were evaluated by two independent readers and compared with a quantitative interpretation of time-activity courses. Microbiological examinations and joint aspiration results were used as reference standards. Histologically, aseptic TKA loosening occurred in two patients and severe, moderate or mild septic loosening in four, nine and 11 patients, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy for severe infection was 100% for both readers, whereas for moderate infection accuracy decreased by 12% and 12% for readers one and two, respectively. For mild infection a further decrease of approximately 61% and 52% occurred for readers one and two, respectively. Quantitative evaluation gave significantly better results over visual interpretation with a diagnostic accuracy of 100% for severe infection and decreased by only 10% and 15% in patients with moderate and mild infection, respectively. Quantitative evaluation of (99m)Tc-Fab' fragments is highly sensitive and specific for diagnostic imaging of infection in patients with septically-loosened TKA.

The role of hybrid bone SPECT/CT imaging in the work-up of the limping patient: a symptom-based and joint-oriented review.

A vast spectrum of lower limb bone and joint disorders (hip, knee, ankle, foot) present with a common clinical presentation: limping. Too often this symptom generates an inefficient cascade of imaging studies. This review attempts to optimise the diagnostic effectiveness of bone scintigraphy using the hybrid SPECT/CT technique in relation to the diagnostic clues provided by other imaging modalities, discusses the appropriate clinical indications, optimal scintigraphic procedures and illustrates updated image pattern-oriented reporting. Frequent lower limb bone and joint pathologies that can now be reliably diagnosed using hybrid bone SPECT/CT imaging will be reviewed. Bone SPECT/CT can be an effective problem-solving tool in patients with persistent limping when careful history taking, clinical examination, and first-line imaging modalities fail to identify the underlying cause.

Serious complications after radiosynoviorthesis. Survey on frequency and treatment modalities.

AIM: Radiosynoviorthesis using intraarticular injection of beta-emitting radiocolloids is increasingly performed throughout Europe in patients with inflammatory joint disease. It is a cost-effective and safe treatment, local complications are very rare with only eight cases mentioned in the literature so far. No recommendations for therapy of tissue necrosis, infection or thromboembolism after radiosynoviorthesis are available. METHODS: Using a standardized questionary, 260 nuclear medicine physicians and 20 medical liability insurances were asked for the kind and frequency of complications after radiosynoviorthesis between 1998 and 2003. The survey was terminated after nine months with a response of only 25.7%. RESULTS: A total of 53 severe complications were documented (28 necroses, 12 thromboses, 13 joint infections). Eight other complications were seen but difficult to correlate directly with radiosynoviorthesis. Tissue necroses from yttrium-90 were successfully treated by surgical excision and closure of the defect. Rhenium-186-induced ulcers healed by hyperbaric oxygen therapy in two cases. Lesions from erbium-169 showed restoration by conservative treatment. Thromboembolic events happened after radiosynoviorthesis in joints of the lower limb only, mostly treated by conventional anticoagulation. Intraarticular infections showed restoration after intraarticular antibiotics in the majority of cases. CONCLUSION: Severe complications after radiosynoviorthesis seem to be rare. However, because of the low return rate, a reliable frequency cannot be calculated. Nevertheless, important advices regarding treatment concepts can be taken from our data.

Co-transplantation of donor-derived hepatocytes induces long-term tolerance to cardiac allografts in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Liver allografts transplanted between MHC-disparate mice, rats, and swine are spontaneously accepted in most strain combinations without requirement for immunosuppression. The underlying mechanism has, however, remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that co-transplantation of donor-derived hepatocytes protect Lewis (RT1.A1) cardiac allografts from acute and chronic rejection in DA (RT1.Aa) recipients indefinitely. METHODS: Livers of donor Lewis rats were harvested and the hepatocytes separated from hepatic leukocytes by collagenase digestion and gradient separation. DA recipient animals were transplanted Lewis cardiac allografts and simultaneously intraportally infused either Lewis-derived hepatocytes or hepatic leukocytes. Recipient animals were either not further treated or received a single dose of 15 mg/kg cyclosporine. RESULTS: Donor hepatocytes alone significantly protected syngeneic cardiac allografts from rejection, whereas hepatic leukocytes failed to influence graft survival. In combination with cyclosporine, recipient cardiac allografts were indefinitely protected from rejection. Graft-infiltrating cells in tolerant animals presented as clusters of CD4+ T cells and stained mostly positive for interleukin-4, whereas graft-infiltrating cells in rejected allografts were predominantly positive for interferon-gamma. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes derived from tolerant animals protected Lewis cardiac allografts from rejection in DA recipients without immunosuppression. In contrast, hepatic leukocytes protected only 50% of the allografts from rejection. CONCLUSION: We propose that donor hepatocytes induce permanent engraftment of syngeneic allografts by establishing a Th2 type alloresponse that is transferable to new graft recipients. The results of this study demonstrate that liver parenchymal cells significantly mediate spontaneously liver-induced tolerance.

Demonstration of dopamine-immunoreactive cells in the gastrointestinal tract of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

We investigated dopamine immunoreactivity in the small intestine of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), using a sensitive and selective antibody against glutaraldehyde-conjugated dopamine. Dopamine-immunoreactive cells were found within the mucosal epithelium along the entire extent of the small intestine. Labeled cells were regularly distributed in the upper half of the intestinal villi, basally attached to the basement membrane and always reaching as far as the epithelial surface. Dopamine-containing cells revealed a spindle-like shape, and both light and electron microscopic characteristics relate them to typical open-type gut endocrine cells. Thus, this current study directly identified dopamine as a probable secretory product in basal granulated cells of the small intestine. The functional significance of these cells is discussed in relation to the current view of dopaminergic actions in peripheral tissues.

Skeletal uptake and soft-tissue retention of 186Re-HEDP and 153Sm-EDTMP in patients with metastatic bone disease.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to introduce a new quantification method for 153Sm-ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonate (EDTMP) and 186Re-(tin)1,1-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) to separately measure bone uptake and soft-tissue retention of these radiopharmaceuticals. METHODS: Studies were performed on 23 men and 6 women undergoing radionuclide therapy for palliation of bone pain. Whole-body images were acquired at 3 min, 3-4 h, and 24-72 h after injection of 1,295 MBq 186Re-HEDP and 37 MBq 153Sm-EDTMP per kilogram of body weight. The activities for whole body, urinary bladder, and both thighs, as representative of soft tissue, were measured by region-of-interest technique. A background region of interest adjacent to the head was used to correct for bremsstrahlung. Bone uptake was calculated as initial whole-body activity minus urinary excretion and remaining soft-tissue activity. RESULTS: For 186Re-HEDP (n = 11) the mean bone uptake at 3 h after injection was 13.7% +/- 8.6% of initial whole-body activity. The remaining soft-tissue activity was 49.4% +/- 16.9%, and urinary excretion was 36.9% +/- 14.4%. At 24 h after injection, bone uptake reached a value of 21.8% +/- 9.0%. Urinary excretion increased to 65.3% +/- 12.8% according to a decreasing soft-tissue remainder activity of 12.8% +/- 5.4%. The corresponding results for 153Sm-EDTMP (n = 18) at 3 h after injection were 29.2% +/- 15.5% for bone uptake, 32.3% +/- 12.9% for urinary excretion, and 38.4% +/- 14.5% for soft tissue. At 24 h after injection, we calculated values of 47.7% +/- 11.2% for bone uptake, 39.5% +/- 13.8% for urinary excretion, and 12.7% +/- 4.7% for soft tissue. CONCLUSION: Bone uptake and soft-tissue retention for both 186Re-HEDP and 153Sm-EDTMP as obtained in this study agree well with the conventional 24-h whole-body retention measurements for these tracers. However, by this new scintigraphic quantification method, bone uptake and soft-tissue retention can be calculated separately, thus providing more detailed kinetic data and potentially improving the dosimetry of these radiopharmaceuticals in, for example, assessment of radiation dosage to bone and bone marrow.

High-dose treatment with (186)Re-HEDP or (153)Sm-EDTMP combined with amifostine in a rabbit model.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the myeloprotective potential of amifostine in rabbits receiving high-dose treatment with either (153)Sm-ethylenediaminetetramethylene phosphonate (EDTMP) or (186)Re-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) and to check for drug interactions impairing the skeletal uptake of these radiopharmaceuticals by amifostine. METHODS: To a total of 24 rabbits, we administered 1,000 MBq of either (153)Sm-EDTMP (n = 12) or (186)Re-HEDP (n = 12). Six animals of each group received 500 mg amifostine intravenously 10-15 min before injection of the radiopharmaceutical, whereas the other 6 animals served as controls. Up to 8 wk after treatment, blood samples were collected every 3-5 d to measure platelet and leukocyte counts. Furthermore, whole-body images were acquired at 3 min, 3 h, and 24 h after injection of the radiopharmaceutical to quantify the skeletal uptake. RESULTS: For (186)Re-HEDP, the mean decrease in platelets was significantly less in the amifostine group (35.5% +/- 2.4%) than in the control group (61.3% +/- 5.4%, P < 0.001). Similar results were found for (153)Sm-EDTMP (36.5% +/- 8.3% vs. 52.3% +/- 14.0%, P < 0.05). No significant differences in leukocyte counts were found for (186)Re-HEDP (75.3% +/- 12.3% in the amifostine group and 72.5% +/- 4.1% in the control group, P > 0.05), whereas rabbits treated with (153)Sm-EDTMP plus amifostine showed a significantly greater decrease in leukocytes (69.2% +/- 10.8%) than did the control group (56.6% +/- 4.0%, P < 0.05). Bone uptake in percentage of initial total whole-body activity was significantly decreased in animals treated with amifostine compared with the control groups for both (186)Re-HEDP (15.8% +/- 3.1% vs. 30.9% +/- 1.9%, P < 0.001) and (153)Sm-EDTMP (31.7% +/- 8.9% vs. 44.0% +/- 6.5%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For amifostine, we found a highly significant cytoprotective effect on platelets but no leukoprotective effect. The latter probably relies on the intrinsic myelotoxicity of high-dose amifostine, which seemed to potentiate the leukodepression of the radiopharmaceuticals. The lower bone uptake in amifostine-treated animals may be caused by the chemical structure of amifostine, which is a potentially complex-forming compound that may be able to displace bisphosphonates from the rhenium- and samarium-bisphosphonate complexes, resulting in altered biodistribution patterns.

Age-related changes in the articular cartilage of human sacroiliac joint.

Iliac and sacral articular cartilage of 25 human sacroiliac joints (1-93 years) are examined by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry in order to gain further insight into the nature and progress of degenerative changes appearing during aging. These changes can already be seen in younger adults as compared to cartilage degeneration known in other diarthrodial joints. Structural differences between sacral and iliac cartilage can already be observed in the infant: the sacral auricular facet is covered with a hyaline articular cartilage, reaching 4 mm in thickness in the adult and staining intensely blue with alcian blue at pH1. Iliac cartilage of the newborn is composed of a dense fibrillar network of thick collagen bundles, crossing each other at approximately right angles. A faint staining with alcian blue suggests a low content of acidic glycosaminoglycans. In the adult, iliac cartilage becomes hyaline and its maximal thickness reaches 1-2 mm. Both articular facets exhibit morphological changes during aging that are more pronounced in the iliac cartilage and resemble osteoarthritic degeneration; the staining pattern of the extracellular matrix becomes inhomogenous, chondrocytes are arranged in clusters and the articular surface develops superficial irregularities and fissures. Sometimes fibrous tissue fills up these defects. Nevertheless, large areas of iliac cartilage remain hyaline in nature. Sacral articular cartilage often remains largely unaltered until old age. The sacral subchondral bone plate is usually thin and shows spongiosa trabeculae inserted at right angles, suggesting a perpendicular load on the articular facet. Iliac subchondral spongiosa shows no definite alignment and joins the thickened subchondral bone plate in an oblique direction. The iliac cartilage therefore seems to be stressed predominantly by shearing forces, arising from the changing monopodal support of the pelvis during locomotion. The subchondral bone plate on both the iliac and sacral auricular facet is penetrated by blood vessels that come into close contact with the overlying articular cartilage. These vessels may contribute to the high incidence of rheumatoid and inflammatory diseases in the human sacroiliac joint. Immunolabelling with an antibody against type II collagen reveals a diminished immunoreactivity in the upper half of adult sacral cartilage and only a faint and irregular labelling in the iliac cartilage. Type I collagen can be detected in a superficial layer on the sacral articular surface and around chondrocyte clusters in iliac cartilage, as in dedifferentiating chondrocytes during the development of osteoarthritis.

Localization of type I and II collagen during development of human first rib cartilage.

The localization of fibrillar type I and II collagen was investigated by immunofluorescence staining with specific antibodies in order to obtain a better understanding of tissue remodelling during the development of first rib cartilage. In childhood and early adolescence type I collagen was found to be restricted to the perichondrium of first rib cartilage, while type II collagen was localized in the matrix of hyaline cartilage. However, in advanced age type I collagen was also found in the territorial matrix of intermediate and central chondrocytes of first rib cartilage. The matrix of subperichondrial chondrocytes was negative for type I collagen. This suggests that some chondrocytes in first rib cartilage undergo a modulation to type I collagen-producing cells. The first bone formation was observed in rib cartilages of 20- to 25-year-old adults. Interestingly, the ossification began peripherally, adjacent to the innermost layer of the perichondrium where areas of fibrocartilage had developed. The newly formed bone matrix showed strong immunostaining for type I collagen. Fibrocartilage bordering peripherally on bone matrix revealed only a faint staining for type I collagen, but strong immunoreactivity to type II collagen. The interterritorial matrix of the central chondrocytes failed to react with the type II collagen antibody, in both men and women, from the end of the second decade. These observations indicate that major matrix changes occur at the same time in male and female first rib cartilages. Thus, our findings indicate that ossification in human first rib cartilage does not follow the same pattern as that observed in endochondral ossification of epiphyseal discs or sternal cartilage.

Age- and sex-related bone uptake of Tc-99m-HDP measured by whole-body bone scanning.

UNLABELLED: AIM of this study was to validate a recently introduced new and easy-to-perform method for quantifying bone uptake of Tc-99m-labelled diphosphonate in a routine clinical setting and to establish a normal data base for bone uptake depending on age and gender. METHODS: In 49 women (14-79 years) and 47 men (6-89 years) with normal bone scans as well as in 49 women (33-81 years) and 37 men (27-88 years) with metastatic bone disease whole-body bone scans were acquired at 3 min and 3-4 hours p.i. to calculate bone uptake after correction for both urinary excretion and soft tissue retention. RESULTS: Bone uptake values of various age-related subgroups showed no significant differences between men and women (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no differences could be proven between age-matched subgroups of normals and patients with less than 10 metastatic bone lesions, while patients with wide-spread bone metastases revealed significantly increased uptake values. In both men and women highest bone uptake was obtained (p < 0.05) in subjects younger than 20 years with active epiphyseal growth plates. In men, bone uptake slowly decreased with age up to 60 years and then showed a tendency towards increasing uptake values. In women, the mean uptake reached a minimum in the decade 20-29 years and then slowly increased with a positive linear correlation of age and uptake in subjects older than 55 years (r = 0.57). CONCLUSION: Since the results proposed in this study are in good agreement with data from literature, the new method used for quantification could be validated in a large number of patients. Furthermore, age- and sex-related normal bone uptake values of Tc-99m-HDP covering a wide range of age could be presented for this method as a basis for further studies on bone uptake.

Decisive diagnosis of infected mandibular osteoradionecrosis with a Tc-99m-labelled anti-granulocyte Fab'-fragment.

The accepted golden standard for detection of inflammatory bone disease is conventional three-phase bone scanning. Hyperperfusion, a high blood-pool activity and elevated bone metabolism are typical signs for an acute osteomyelitis. However, in case of subacute, chronic inflammation, neither elevated blood flow nor high blood-pool activity may be seen. This may cause difficulties in differentiating such cases from neoplastic or postoperative changes. This case report verifies the possible advantage of immunoscintigraphy with Tc-99m-labelled anti-granulocyte Fab'-fragments (LeukoScan) in a patient with infected mandibular osteoradionecrosis, who had equivocal clinical symptoms and questionable radiographic results. LeukoScan is shown to be more sensitive in case of subacute bone inflammation compared with three-phase bone scanning. However, acquisition of delayed images after 24 hours including SPECT is inevitable in case of negative scans during the first hours of investigation.

Radiation exposure to the personnel in the operating room and in the pathology due to SLN detection with Tc-99m-nanocolloid in breast cancer patients.

UNLABELLED: AIM of this study was to assess the radiation exposure for the personnel in the operating room and in the pathology laboratories caused by radioguided SLN localization in breast cancer. METHODS: In 15 patients dose rates were measured at various distances from the breast and tumor specimens during operation and pathological work-up at 3-5 h after peritumoral injection of 30 MBq Tc-99m-nanocolloid. RESULTS: The dose rates were 84.1 +/- 46.4 microGy/h at 2.5 cm, 3.57 +/- 2.14 microGy/h at 30 cm, 0.87 +/- 0.51 microGy/h at 100 cm, and 0.40 +/- 0.20 microGy/h at 150 cm in the operating room and 44.4 +/- 27.8 microGy/h at 2.5 cm, and 1.66 +/- 1.34 microGy/h at 30 cm in the pathology laboratories. From these data the radiation exposure was calculated for 250 operations per year assuming a mean exposure time of 30 min for the surgical team members and of 10 min for the pathology staff. Under these conditions the finger dose is 10.5 mGy for the surgeon, and 5.55 mGy for the pathologist. The whole-body doses are 0.45 mSv, 0.11 mSv, 0.05 mSv, and 0.21 mSv for the surgeon, the operating room nurse, the anesthetist, and the pathologist, respectively. CONCLUSION: Since the radiation risk to staff members is low, a classification of the personnel in the operating room and in the pathology laboratories as occupational radiation exposed workers is not necessary.

[Lymph scintigraphy and pre- and intraoperative gamma probe measurements for localization of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in breast cancer]. / Lymphszintigraphie sowie prä- und intraoperative Sondenmessung zur Darstellung des Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) beim Mammakarzinom.

UNLABELLED: Aim of this study was to prove the clinical value of nuclear medicine procedures to detect the sentinel lymph node (SLN) for SLN biopsy. METHODS: In 132 patients with breast cancer we performed lymph scintigraphy of the breast as well as both pre- and intraoperative gamma probe measurements correlating the results with the findings of histopathology. RESULTS: SLN were detectable in 62 of 110 patients according to a sensitivity of 56% when scanning was performed only at 1-2 h p.i. while the sensitivity increased to 86% (19 of 22 pts.) if sequential images were acquired up to 2 h p.i. One or more SLN were identified by a hand-held gamma probe transcutaneously prior to surgery in 96% (113 of 118 pts.) of the patients who showed up with no clinically suspected lymph node metastases. Intraoperatively, in additionally 2 patients the SLN could be found resulting in a sensitivity of 97% (115 of 118 pts.). In only 3 patients with clinically no tumor spread to axillary lymph nodes no SLN could be identified by the probe. Skip lesions, i.e. lymph node metastases in patients with tumor-free SLN, occurred in 2 cases: due to SLN biopsy in these patients lymph node staging was false negative compared to conventional staging by means of axillary lymph node dissection. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate a high preoperative detection rate of SLN in patients with breast cancer using lymph scintigraphy and gamma probe measurements. Thus, nuclear medicine is capable of providing the basic requirements for SLN biopsy in the daily routine.

Long-term results of radiation synovectomy: a clinical follow-up study.

Radiation synovectomy by intra-articular injection of beta-emitting radionuclides is a reliable and easy-to-perform therapy without harmful side effects for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatoid as well as degenerative joint diseases. The indication for radiation synovectomy is based on both clinical symptoms and on proven hyperperfusion, with active synovitis being seen on a pre-therapeutic three-phase bone scan. In this study, the clinical response after 6-18 months, evaluated by a standardized questionnaire, was compared with the reduction of synovitis seen on three-phase bone scintigraphy after treatment of 475 joints in 151 patients. The best clinical results were obtained in cases of true rheumatoid arthritis (73.4%), with less in other kinds of arthritis (48.8%) such as psoriatic or reactive arthritis. Because of the inflamed synovium being the main target tissue, clinical results in osteoarthritis with severe bone destruction are poorer (33.9%). However, synovitis can be markedly reduced (in approximately 70%), regardless of the underlying diagnosis, as shown by post-therapeutic three-phase bone scanning. Radiation synovectomy can be recommended in all kinds of arthritis. It should also be considered in cases of osteoarthritis as a last therapeutic option prior to joint replacement.

Mineralization and osteogenesis in the human first rib cartilage.

Mineralization and osteogenesis in the human first rib cartilage were studied radiologically and by means of normal and polarized light microscopy. Onset of mineralization occurs at the end of puberty and is located directly beneath the perichondrium. Bone is formed in a typical spur-like pattern, arising medially from the upper edge of the manubrium sterni and laterally from the caudal rim of the bony part of the rib. From the middle of the second decade, large cartilage canals with several blood vessels and loose perivascular connective tissue are seen in central areas of the first costal cartilage. These parts are the last to be mineralized and ossified in old age. The type of osteogenesis cannot be classified according to common patterns. In spite of the subperichondral localization it cannot be intramembranous, because the new bone is separated from the perichondrium by a layer of mineralized cartilage. Osteogenesis cannot be called endochondral compared with the epiphyseal plate for the following reasons: there are no hypertrophied chondrocytes; an immunoreactivity for collagen type X is missing; areas where bone is formed directly on hyaline cartilage could be proved. Vascularization and onset of osteogenesis are separated in time and localization. Mineralization and osteogenesis in human first rib cartilage are physiological age-related changes, which cannot be regarded as degenerative processes. Ossification is not directly correlated with the invasion of blood vessels and cannot be classified as one of the classical concepts of intramembranous or endochondral osteogenesis.

Acne with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis involving the mandible as part of the SAPHO syndrome: case report.

For 12 years, a 26-year-old man had acne conglobata and a non-suppurative diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible as part of a chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis of the sternum, the pelvic bones, and the femoral head, and aseptic arthritis of the knee, the fibulotalar, and the sternoclavicular joints. This fulfills the formal criteria of the SAPHO syndrome. Repeated surgical and antibiotic treatment combined with hyperbaric oxygen caused partial improvement. Complete relief and partial disappearance of the scintigraphic lesions was achieved with long-term corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, minocycline, and isotretinoin.