Bone scintigraphy and radiography in the early recognition of diabetic osteopathy

Twenty-seven diabetic patients with clinical evidence of neuropathy were investigated by foot radiography, two-phase bone scintigraphy, biothesiometry and cardiovascular autonomic function testing. Typical signs of diabetic osteopathy on radiography were found in 10 subjects (37%), the degree of radiographic abnormality correlating with the severity of neurological impairment. Furthermore, all diabetics with evidence of severe neuropathy showed some evidence of osteopathy on foot radiographs. In all 10 cases of diabetic osteopathy diagnosed radiographically, abnormalities were shown on scintigraphy. In addition, five other patients showed scintigraphic abnormalities, without corresponding changes on radiography, and in this group the neurological impairment was less severe. Although confirmatory longitudinal studies are necessary, it seems likely that the earliest changes of diabetic neuropathic osteopathy may thus be recognized on bone scintigraphy, at a time when conventional radiographs are normal. This stage of diabetic osteopathy is associated with a lesser degree of neurological impairment.