Vol. 28 No. 1 (2026): Rare Skeletal Scintigraphy Findings in Sickle Cell Disease - Nutcracker-like Phenomenon Secondary to Severe Scoliosis - Papillary carcinoma on intranodal thyroid ectopy - Brainstem Lesion as an Unusual Presentation of Neuroborreliosis - Transverse Testicular Ectopia - Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Secondary to Neurovascular Conflict
This issue of the Swiss Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine presents six diverse and educational case reports highlighting the diagnostic value of multimodality imaging in rare clinical entities and atypical disease presentations across radiology and nuclear medicine.
Several contributions emphasize the importance of recognizing uncommon anatomical and pathological variants. A rare case of papillary carcinoma arising from intranodal thyroid ectopy illustrates a challenging diagnostic scenario in which metastatic disease must be distinguished from ectopic primary origin using combined histopathological and radioiodine imaging approaches . Similarly, an unusual nutcracker-like phenomenon caused by severe scoliosis demonstrates how spinal deformity may induce unexpected vascular compression patterns detectable on cross-sectional imaging .
Congenital anomalies are addressed through a report of transverse testicular ectopia presenting in adulthood as primary infertility, underscoring the essential role of ultrasound and MRI in preoperative diagnosis of rare developmental conditions .
Neuroradiological diagnostic complexity is highlighted by a case of neuroborreliosis manifesting as a mass-like brainstem lesion mimicking tumefactive demyelination, demonstrating the necessity of integrating imaging findings with laboratory data to avoid misdiagnosis .
Musculoskeletal and peripheral nerve imaging are represented by a case of tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by neurovascular conflict, showcasing the diagnostic power of dynamic ultrasound with Doppler evaluation .
Finally, nuclear medicine imaging is illustrated through characteristic yet rare skeletal scintigraphy findings in sickle cell disease, including extraskeletal splenic tracer uptake confirmed by SPECT/CT .
Together, these reports reinforce the central role of imaging in identifying rare diseases, avoiding diagnostic pitfalls, and guiding patient management in contemporary clinical practice.
