Dynamic studies with 99mTc-HEDP in normal subjects and in patients with bone tumors

Blood clearance, urinary excretion, and spinal uptake of 99mTc-HEDP have been measured in ten normal control subjects. Blood clearance from 15 min is biexponential. Approximately 70% of the administered activity was excreted in the urine within 6 hr of injection. Spine-to-background ratios rise sequentially with time. Net normal bone uptake rises little after 2 hr and improved visualization of the normal skeleton therafter is due to reduction of blood background activity. In 13 patients with bone tumors, direct measurement of diphosphonate uptake by the tumor-involved and corresponding normal bone showed a continued rise in diphosphonate levels in the tumor-involved bone due to increased metabolic activity.