Thoracic metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy: scintigraphic and CT findings.

The imaging findings in a group of 33 patients who developed thoracic metastases following prior therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were reviewed. Four (12.1%) patients had scintigraphic or radiographic evidence of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA) on presentation. In one case this developed prior to radiographic or CT evidence of pulmonary metastatic disease. Evidence of hilar or mediastinal metastatic involvement was seen in three of four patient, and a pulmonary metastasis alone in one. Similarity in appearance of the hilar or mediastinal deposits to primary bronchial carcinoma and the presence of HPOA necessitated biopsy confirmation of NPC metastasis in all four cases. The scintigraphic and CT appearances of this unusual radiological association are discussed.