[Bone imaging in the detection of skeletal metastasis]

Tc-99m-HMDP bone imaging was performed in 114 patients with various carcinomas. Ninety-four patients gave positive results. In 65 patients, bone imaging was compared with radiograms. The two methods were both positive in 40 patients (62%). Of these 65 patients, 17 (26.1%) had negative radiograph but positive bone imaging. Bone metastases were mainly found in the axial skeleton. It is important to differentiate bone fracture from metastasis when only one single lesion is found. The best differentiation is bone imaging follow-up.