Scintigraphy with 99mTc-phosphonate and 67gallium in patients suspected of primary bone tumors

Whole-body scintigraphy with both 99mTc-phosphonate and 67Ga was performed on 92 patients suspected of primary bone tumors. In 46 patients with primary malignant bone tumors, scintigraphy with 99mTc-phosphonate disclosed the primary tumor in 44 cases and skeletal metastases in 11, and 67Ga scintigraphy detected the primary tumor in 43 cases, skeletal metastases in 6 cases and soft-tissue metastases in 8 cases. In 25 patients with secondary malignant bone tumors, bone scintigraphy visualized a single lesion in 10 cases and several lesions in 15 cases, and 67Ga scintigraphy detected the primary tumor in 17 cases, skeletal metastases in 17 cases and soft-tissue metastases in 9 cases. In 21 patients with benign bone disease positive uptake of 99mTc-phosphonate was recognized in 19 cases and uptake of 67Ga in 17 cases. It is concluded that bone scintigraphy should be used in patients suspected of primary bone tumors. If malignancy is suspected, 67Ga scintigraphy should be performed in addition.