The value of non-staging skeletal scintigraphy in breast cancer

A series of 315 patients with histologically proven breast cancer had skeletal scintigraphy performed for defined reasons other than initial staging. Of these, 173 (55%) were found to be abnormal. The yield of abnormalities was highest (83%) in patients with bone pain or tenderness and radiographic evidence of metastases: 38% in those with bone pain or tenderness alone, 37% in asymptomatic patients with local or regional recurrence and 54% in those with non-bony metastases. The overall actuarial survival over a maximum follow-up of 9 years was significantly worse for those with abnormal scintigraphy. Non-staging skeletal scintigraphy is useful in detecting asymptomatic bone metastases at the time of local or regional recurrence or in the presence of non-bony metastases.