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Abstract
A 66-year-old man with pulmonary sarcoidosis was referred to the urology team for assessment of troublesome lower urinary tract symptoms. An elevated blood serum prostate-specific antigen raised concern for prostate cancer. An MRI of the prostate demonstrated a potentially aggressive prostate lesion, along with low T1 signal skeletal lesions, suggestive of metastatic disease. Subsequent bone scan and MRI whole spine demonstrated further skeletal lesions. In cases of known prostate cancer, sometimes a presumptive diagnosis of skeletal metastases is made without histological diagnosis from the skeletal lesions. However, there were certain factors in this case whereby skeletal biopsy was deemed prudent prior to further therapy. Factors included atypical MRI signal characteristics for metastatic disease, absence of a positive tissue diagnosis from the prostate and the clinical background of sarcoidosis. The biopsy confirmed skeletal sarcoid rather than metastatic disease, thereby avoiding inappropriate and potentially toxic treatment for the patient.
- radiology
- rheumatology
- musculoskeletal and joint disorders
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Footnotes
Contributors MC was originally involved in the patient's case, offering his expertise on the imaging findings and patient management. He identified the value in publishing the case so that others may learn from the case. He was therefore involved in the design and concept of the paper, and reviewed the paper for final checking prior to submission. MS wrote the paper including review of all relevant literature included in the case.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.