The role of bone scintigraphy in osteogenic sarcoma

Hospital records of 27 children with osteogenic sarcoma were reviewed in an effort to define the usefulness of skeletal scintigraphy in the initial evaluation and follow-up of their disease. Serial bone scans as well as plain radiographs, linear tomograms, and computed tomograms were evaluated for evidence of bone or lung metastases. Eighteen patients developed lung metastases and three developed bone metastases. Seven patients demonstrated uptake of tracer in lung metastases, however, the lesions were all easily identifiable by radiographic means. All bone metastases were detected by scintigraphy, in one instance prior to radiographic abnormality. In no cases were bone metastases known to occur in the absence of lung metastases. None of the bone scans performed for routine follow-up purposes resulted in altered therapy for the patient. We propose that skeletal scintigraphy is useful in the initial metastatic work up of osteogenic sarcoma, and may be helpful in some patients with specific indications during their follow-up, but is less valuable when there is no clinical suspicion for bone metastases.