Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
![Quantitative [18F]-Naf-PET-MRI Analysis for the Evaluation of Dynamic Bone Turnover in a Patient with Facetogenic Low Back Pain](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58491.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
06:31
Quantitative [18F]-Naf-PET-MRI Analysis for the Evaluation of Dynamic Bone Turnover in a Patient with Facetogenic Low Back Pain
Published on: August 8, 2019
Age-related changes in skull uptake on bone scintigraphy: a quantitative study.
Ramin Sadeghi1, Seyed Rasoul Zakavi, Masrour Ghasemov
1Nuclear Medicine Department, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Nuclear Medicine Review. Central & Eastern Europe
|July 9, 2009
Summary
The "hot skull" finding on bone scans is common in elderly women and not always abnormal. This study highlights age and sex differences in skull to femoral ratios, suggesting personalized reference values for nuclear medicine departments.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Diffuse increased radiotracer uptake in the skull, termed "hot skull", is often observed in elderly patients, particularly women.
- This phenomenon has been historically attributed to age-related increases in bone metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age and sex-specific variations in "hot skull" findings using semi-quantitative analysis.
- To establish reference ranges for the skull to femoral ratio (SFR) in a normal population.
Main Methods:
- A semi-quantitative analysis was performed on 342 normal bone scans from individuals aged 12 to 82 years.
- Patients were stratified into seven age groups.
- The skull to femoral ratio (SFR) was calculated using background-corrected region of interest (ROI) values from the skull and mid-femur.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher SFR was observed in females aged 30 and above compared to younger age groups.
- In males, significantly higher SFR was noted in the 60-69 and 70+ age groups.
- Observed male SFR patterns differed from previous studies, potentially due to variations in bone mineral density within the Iranian population.
Conclusions:
- "Hot skull" may not indicate pathology, especially in elderly women.
- Ethnic and socio-economic variations necessitate the use of local normal values and reference samples for accurate quantitative evaluation in nuclear medicine.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET
Fundamental Principles of PET
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Calcium-Scoring CT ScanA calcium-scoring CT scan, also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan, detects calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This test assesses the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to cardiovascular events such as angina, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest.A calcium-scoring CT scan is generally recommended for individuals at intermediate risk of CAD without symptoms. It includes:Men aged 40-75 and women aged 50-75: Especially those with a...
01:29Bone Disorders
Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...