The value of the bone scan in idiopathic regional migratory osteoporosis

Idiopathic regional migratory osteoporosis is a self-limited entity of unknown origin, which has received little attention in the nuclear medicine literature. It is characterized by severe joint pain, typically in a hip, with normal laboratory and normal early radiographic findings. Spontaneous recovery occurs, but recurrence is frequent in another joint, often the opposite hip. Recurrence in the same joint has never been reported. The bone scan is shown to be positive with first symptoms and is important in the diagnosis and management of this entity. Three cases are presented.