Bone marrow scintigraphy in myelofibrosis

Seventy-seven patients with myelo-fibrosis have been studied during the last three years, by using as tracers 99m Tc- colloids and 111 In-transferrin. A low axial uptake of the colloids, an extension of the indium uptake beyond the axis towards the knees and sometimes ankles and elbows, the splenic indium uptake, are valuable diagnostic criteria, particularly useful for excluding a myelo-fibrosis associated to a malignant disorder. The clinical severity of the disease may be predicted from isotopic studies, particularly the disappearance of a physiologically active bone marrow (indium uptake). The bone marrow scintigraphy could contribute to the difficult decision of splenectomy.