Subclinical rib fractures detected by SPECT/CT imaging in a patient with chest wall pain following a car accident

Background: Hairline rib fracture commonly happens after blunt trauma, and it is hard to be detected by X-ray. Many methods can used, among them, the hybrid image of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) (CT) seems produce higher sensitivity for diagnosis. Case presentation: A 63-year-old man came our rehabilitation clinic a vehicle accident 25 days earlier. He had multiple plain films focusing in injured areas, but nothing was detected. However, he persisted pain right left chest walls individually before after, which worsened every time when coughed bent over. Patient examined with whole body bone scan SPECT/CT, showed out definite ribs 3-4 8-10. The patient then received medicine pain-killer modalities at wall. Conclusions: We present subclinical initially, later diagnosed images SPECT/CT. conclude that SPECT/CT produces more precise diagnoses hairline field scintigraphic rehabilitation.