Metastatic disease and the nonspecific bone scan: value of spinal computed tomography

Three cases are presented in which there were nonspecific bone scans and normal radiographs and in which spinal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated metastases. In each case, CT provided data that were crucial to patient management. Spinal CT offers important advantages, but further investigation is needed to determine whether it should be the procedure of choice in cases of scan-positive, radiograph-negative spinal foci of unknown etiology.