Complex diagnostic approaches to skeletal metastases of tumors. II

The importance is evaluated of scintigraphy of the skeleton in the following conditions: a) detection of a pathological process in general, b) assessment of its extent, i.e., solitary or multiple pathological foci, c) estimate of the activity of bone reconstruction and d) evaluation of changes in the course of treatment. The problem of interpretation of the results are dealt with of radionuclide examinations of the skeleton with regard to their lack of specificity. The accumulation of osteotropic radionuclides can be influenced by an increased turnover of bone minerals as a result of collateral or whole-body response reaction, the systemic action of various humoral factors, hypercalcaemic conditions, etc. In the differential diagnosis of metastatic osteopathies it is important to take into consideration the positive character of radionuclide examinations in many non-tumorous bone and joint affections. For interpretation of the results also the possibility of depositing radionuclides in extraosseous tissues is important. (author). 2 figs., 30 refs