Objective To analyze the SPECT and CT imaging manifestations of single rib metastasis. Methods 290 patients with extraskeletal malignancy presenting single rib hot spots on bone scan were collected. The SPECT and CT imaging manifestation were analyzed. Results 238 patients had established cause of the single rib hot spots, while 52 patients had not established the cause. Out of 238 patients, 25 (10.50%) patients had a single rib metastasis and 213 (89.50%) patients had a single benign rib hot spots. The incidence of metastasis in strip-type rib hot spots (42.42%, 14/33) is significantly higher than that in ovoid rib hot spots (5.36% ,11/205, χ2=41.524, P=0.000). The incidence of metastasis in the posterior rib hot spots (18.46%, 12/65) is significantly higher than that in the anterior rib hot spots (6.20%, 8/129, χ2=7.026, P=0.008). No differences were observed when we compared the incidence of metastasis in the lateral rib hot spots (11.63%, 5/43) with that in the anterior rib hot spots or with that in the posterior rib hot spots (χ2=1.359、P=0.244，χ2=0.911、P=0.340). Among the 25rib metastasis, 20 (80.00%) rib metastasis were osteolytic metastasis and 4 (16.00%) rib metastasis were mixed bone metastasis. The CT manifestation was negative in one rib metastases. Conclusion The incidence of metastasis is high in the posterior and strip-type single rib hot spots. Single rib metastasis manifest mainly osteolytic metastasis.