Premium
Pathogenesis of the positive bone scan and its implications for the detection of metastatic osteosarcomas
Author(s) -
Schall Gerald L.,
Larson Steven M.,
Delellis Ronald
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930030614
Subject(s) - medicine , osteoid , osteosarcoma , calcification , pathology , radiology , neoplasm , primary tumor , nuclear medicine , metastasis , cancer
The bone scan is a more sensitive indicator of bone involvement in primary or secondary neoplastic disease than the X‐ray. A positive scan is produced by the deposition of a radioactive, calcium‐mimetic tracer in the immature osteoid of rapidly growing bone. In metastatic bone tumors, the radionuclide is localized in the reactive bone formed in response to the destruction of normal tissue by the invasive neoplasm, whereas in primary bone tumors, specifically osteosarcomas, the tracer is deposited directly within the tumor. Metastatic osteosarcomas can be detected in a similar manner if they are at least 1‐2 cm in diameter and composed of viable tissue, although calcification is not required. Sr 87 m and F 18 have theoretical advantages over Sr 85 for the delineation of small metastases. Radionuclide scanning is a potentially valuable procedure for the initial diagnosis of primary and secondary osteosarcomas, for the therapeutic staging of patients with this tumor, and for evaluating the response of these lesions to radiation or chemotherapy in cases where surgery is contraindicated.