Bone-scan-like pattern with 99Tcm(V)-DMSA scintigraphy in patients with osteomalacia and primary hyperparathyroidism

The aim of this study was to assess the role of 99Tcm(V)-dimercaptosuccinic acid (99Tcm(V)-DMSA) scintigraphy in the evaluation of patients with metabolic bone disease. The study group comprised eight women aged 17-72 years, six with osteomalacia and two with primary hyperparathyroidism. Six patients were imaged scintigraphically before their treatments were started, whereas the other two underwent treatment during the time of examination. All six patients who had not previously been treated had prominent skeletal 99Tcm(V)-DMSA uptake, revealing a bone-scan-like pattern. In the two patients receiving medical therapy, their 99Tcm(V)-DMSA scans revealed a normal physiological distribution. Many of the fracture and pseudofracture sites detected on bone scans were also discerned with 99Tcm(V)-DMSA scintigraphy. Our results suggest that 99Tcm(V)-DMSA scintigraphy might have the potential as a screening method in patients with metabolic bone disease.