Bone Scintigraphy
 
Bone scintigraphy (osteoscintigraphy) is a modern screening study for assessing pathological changes in the skeleton with minimal radiation exposure to patient. It should be noted that this method allows you to identify pathological changes in bone tissue before the appearance of radiological signs of the disease.

Three-phase osteoscintigraphy (dynamic 3-stage study) is used mainly for the diagnosis of benign tumors, while the phases of blood flow, tissue blood filling and examination of the bones themselves are assessed.

Most often (mainly with proven malignant neoplasms), the multiphase technique is not required and only the third phase is performed - static scintigraphy of the bones of the whole body.

Purpose of Study

Revealing the localization of zones of benign / malignant disorders of "bone" metabolism.

Metastases of Various Tumors in Bone:

First of all, the suspicion of metastatic lesions of the skeleton arises in breast and prostate cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer and some others. Particular caution should be exercised with an increase in the level of tumor markers, for example: PSA (prostate-specific antigen), CA 15-3 and some others. After conservative treatment or surgical removal of the tumor, dynamic monitoring of the state of the bone tissue is recommended. Scintigraphy should be performed the first 2 times with an interval of 6-8 months, then, with a normal examination result, after 1–2 years. The need for re-examinations should be clarified with a radiologist or your doctor.

Inflammatory and Traumatic Changes in Bone Tissue:

One of the indications for carrying out radionuclide studies of the bone system (bone scintigraphy) are inflammatory changes in bone tissue. The method allows to determine the prevalence of the process by identifying foci of inflammation in the bones and joints throughout the skeleton, even in the early stages of the disease. On radiographs with osteomyelitis, as a rule, a less prevalence of the process is determined than it actually is. Scintigraphy shows the true size of the inflammatory focus.

Osteoscintigraphy in Orthopedics and Vertebrology:

When prosthetics of joints or the installation of metal structures in the spine, scintigraphy of the bones of the skeleton reveals mechanical instability of the prosthesis components or an inflammatory process around the prosthesis or metal structure. Unlike other research methods (X-ray, CT, MRI), scintigraphy of the bones of the skeleton allows you to determine the intensity of the inflammatory process in different parts of the bone.