Correlation of neoplasms with incidence and localization of skeletal metastases: an analysis of 1,355 diphosphonate bone scans

A total of 1,355 patients from clinical trials with the /sup 99m/Tc-labeled bone agent, Osteoscan (/sup 99m/Tc-Sn.EHDP), has shown a higher incidence of skeletal abnormalities than previously reported. Overall in this study, 60 percent of bone scans were abnormal in patients with nonosseous neoplasms. Carcinoma of breast, lung, and prostate yielded 67 percent, 64 percent, and 62 percent skeletal involvement, respectively. Over 50 percent of all the skeletal abnormalities for the neoplastic indications were detected in the thorax and vertebra while the skull, pelvis, and extremities accounted for 22 percent, 38 percent, and 34 percent, respectively