Functional three-dimensional tomographic display in skeletal scintigraphy

Functional 3D tomographic display of skeletal scintigraphy is a new tool that may enhance the visualization of bone pathology without increasing radiation dose to the patient. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of 3D display in a mixed group of patients with bone disease. Planar and tomographic imaging was performed in 11 patients. Attenuation-corrected tomographic (SPET) data were processed using a Hanning filter with a cutoff frequency of 0.8 cycles per centimeter and reconstructed with a ramp filter for backprojection. Images were displayed in transverse, coronal, and sagittal sections. Density and gradient-shaded 3D images were also generated. 3D images appeared to add information to SPET studies in six patients with apparent bone expansion or change in bone anatomy. These patients included those with lumbar scoliosis, mandibular tumors and bone tumors at secondary sites from osteosarcoma and breast carcinoma