[Quantitative whole-body bone scintigraphy. I. Methodology (author's transl)]

Quantitative whole-body bone scintigraphy is a method for evaluating digital bone scans. Its principles are: use of a double detector scanner and correction of attenuation and organ thickness effects in the scan; its results: calculation of whole-body activity, relation of bone, soft tissue and organ activity, distribution of the activity in single regions of the skeleton expressed as a percentage. The mean error of the results of 10%. By comparison with a standardized normal scan a local concentration factor for focal and diffuse bone alterations expressing quantitatively increased bone metabolism. The calculation is made automatically by computer. Further papers will report on the application of the method to the evaluation of the kinetics of bone seekers and on clinical experiences.