Radionuclide bone scanning in routine clinical practice

Bone scintigraphy (scanning) is a quick and cost-effective method for evaluating potential bone lesions not visualized on plain radiography. Uses include evaluation of primary and metastatic bone tumors, treatment of bone pain due to tumor invasion, detection of occult fractures and stress injury, evaluation of postprosthesis joint pain, evaluation of metabolic bone disorders, and diagnosis of osteomyelitis. The main advantage of bone scanning is the ability to evaluate the entire skeleton rapidly with high sensitivity.