[Bone metastases: new trends in diagnostic imaging]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Skeletal metastases are frequent in breast, lung, kidney, prostate, and thyroid cancers.
• Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in both screening and evaluating suspicious lesions.
• Accurate staging and monitoring are vital for effective cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging imaging modalities for skeletal metastases.
• To discuss the utility of various techniques in screening, lesion evaluation, and surgical planning.
• To highlight the potential of novel non-invasive methods for tissue characterization and treatment monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Triphasic scintigraphy for screening.
• Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) as an alternative.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluating suspicious lesions.
• Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) for preoperative staging and surgical planning.
• Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), positron emission tomography (PET), and PET/CT for tissue characterization.

Main Results:

• Triphasic scintigraphy is the current standard for screening, with WB-MRI as a promising alternative.
• MRI dominates the evaluation of suspicious skeletal lesions.
• MDCT offers new possibilities for preoperative staging and reconstructive surgery.
• Non-invasive techniques like DWI, PET, and PET/CT show potential for reliable tissue characterization.

Conclusions:

• A range of imaging techniques are available for managing skeletal metastases.
• The choice of modality depends on the clinical question, from screening to detailed lesion assessment.
• Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for accurate diagnosis, surgical planning, and monitoring treatment response in oncology.