Bone and skeletal muscle metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma: unusual radiographic, CT and scintigraphic features

Skeletal metastatic lesions arising from gastric cancer are uncommon and usually of the osteolytic type. In order to gain a better understanding of its radiological spectrum, we report two atypical cases of skeletal metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma presenting with unusual radiographic, CT and scintigraphic features. In one patient multiple ossifying skeletal muscle metastases and bone metastases with spiculated periosteal reaction occurred as a presenting manifestation of the malignant disease. The other patient developed widespread osteosclerotic metastases with a superscan pattern on bone scintigraphy. Received 18 July 1997; Revision received 14 November 1997; Accepted 9 December 1997