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Bone scan: a useful test for evaluating patients with low back pain.
B D Collier1, K M Kir, B J Mills
1Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Skeletal Radiology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Bone scanning, including advanced SPECT imaging, is increasingly vital for diagnosing low back pain causes. This nuclear medicine technique aids in identifying pain origins, interpreting X-rays, and assessing spinal surgery outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Bone scanning is established for detecting bone metastases and osteomyelitis.
- Its application has expanded to evaluating benign skeletal pathology causing low back pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the expanded role of bone scanning in diagnosing and managing low back pain.
- To emphasize the contributions of novel radiopharmaceuticals and SPECT imaging.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate, a radiopharmaceutical.
- Employing Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) for detailed spinal imaging.
- Leveraging rotating gamma cameras for SPECT bone studies.
Main Results:
- Bone scanning effectively identifies pain causes, clarifies radiographic findings, and evaluates spinal surgery outcomes.
- SPECT provides tomographic sections of the spine for enhanced visualization.
- Many community hospitals now possess the technology for advanced bone scans.
Conclusions:
- Bone scanning, particularly with SPECT, is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of low back pain.
- Advancements in nuclear medicine have broadened its utility in skeletal pathology assessment.
- State-of-the-art bone scans are accessible in community hospitals for low back pain evaluation.