Skeletal scintigraphy

Nuclear medicine procedure for imaging bones and joints. First, injection of 10-20 ml Ci 99m-technetium methylene diphosphonate, followed by imaging with the gamma camera at defined time intervals (target and whole-body scintigrams possible). Pathological accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical e.g. in osteomyelitis, fractures, bone tumors, arthritis, osteoarthritis. Highly sensitive method, low specificity. Application in dermatology e.g. psoriatic arthritis, SAPHO, anterior chest wall syndrome and others.

1. Altmeyer P, Holzmann H, Buhles N, Hör G (1987) The skeletal scintigraphy in diseases of the psoriatic form. Dermatologist 38: 663-669
2. Hopfner S et al (2004) Diagnosis of initial changes in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Two years follow up control with a low-field magnetic resonance scanner, 3-phase bone scintigraphy and conventional x-ray. Nuclear Medicine 43: 195-202