"Lunch syndrome," a bone-scanning artifact: case report.

ABSTRACT

After a photon-deficient area in the region of the stomach under the ribs on the left side was noted in some bone-scanning patients, a successful attempt was made to produce the artifact by having a cooperative patient eat a large lunch. The comparison of the scans before and after lunch showed the presence of a postprandial artifact in the area in question. It is important not to confuse this artifact with a space-occupying avascular mass in that part of the abdomen.