Prediction of radionuclide bone imaging findings by Gleason histologic grading of prostate carcinoma

To evaluate a relationship between Gleason scores and Tc-99m HMDP bone imaging findings, data from 48 men (aged 45 to 77; mean, 67) with prostate carcinoma who had a bone imaging study at the time of presentation were reviewed. Cumulative Gleason scores were divided into two groups: high scores (6-10), 32 men; low scores (2-5), 16 men. Of the 32 men with high Gleason scores, 15 tested positive for multiple metastases and 17 tested negative. Tumors of the 16 men with low Gleason scores were negative for metastasis. A chi-square association between Gleason scores and the presence of metastases, either of a superscan pattern or multiple metastases, was 10.9 (1 df, P less than 0.001). The results indicate that a superscan pattern or multiple metastases were found exclusively in the bone images of patients with high histologic grades; bone images negative for metastases were associated with low-grade tumors. We conclude that positive bone imaging for metastases at the initial scan occurs only in patients who have high Gleason scores, that patients with high Gleason scores might or might not have skeletal metastasis, and that skeletal metastasis is not predictable in patients with low Gleason scores.