[Radiologic detection of metastatic bone tumors]

Radiologic strategy for early detection of bone metastasis is discussed. Incidence, pathway, and radiologic manifestation of bone metastasis are briefly discussed. Bone scintigraphy is a mainstay for early detection of bone metastases, although its role as a part of staging procedure is debatable. Plain radiograph and CT scan are to be used to increase specificity of scintigraphic findings. For detection of spinal metastases CT scan is particularly useful and should be used whenever spinal metastases are suspected. MRI has become an important modality to see an extraosseous extension and marrow invasion of metastatic bone tumor.