Appearance of a common catheter in an uncommon location

An unusual appearance on bone-scan was caused by retained activity within a Hickman catheter overlying the abdomen. This commonly-used catheter was placed via the right femoral vein with its tip in the right iliac vein. Thrombosis of the right innominate vein and presence of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, secondary to a large lymphomatous mediastinal mass, precluded placement of a central line in the chest. After correlation of scan findings with the patient's history and site of injection, it became apparent that the unusual scintigraphic appearance overlying the abdomen was caused by a common artifact in an uncommon location.