Can computerised tomography replace bone scintigraphy in detecting bone metastases from breast cancer? A prospective
A R Bristow1, A Agrawal, A J Evans
1Division of Breast Surgery, University of Nottingham, UK.
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|September 25, 2007
Summary
Routine bone scans (BS) may not be necessary for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients if CT scans of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis are performed. This approach effectively detects bone metastases, potentially reducing the need for additional imaging.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Detecting bone metastases is crucial in managing metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
- Traditional methods involve bone scans (BS), but their necessity alongside CT is questioned.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if CT scans including the pelvis can replace bone scans for detecting bone metastases in MBC patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective comparison of 77 pairs of CT (thorax, abdomen, pelvis) and BS in newly diagnosed MBC patients.
- Blind assessment by radiologists and multidisciplinary team review for diagnosing bone metastases.
Main Results:
- CT detected metastatic bone lesions in 98% of patients with bone metastases.
- Bone scans showed positive results in all patients with bone metastases but had 11 false positives.
Conclusions:
- CT scans including the pelvis are highly effective in detecting bone metastases in MBC.
- Routine bone scans may be avoidable when CT of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis is performed.
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