Bone Scan
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A bone scan images the metabolic activity of the skeleton. This has traditionally been accomplished by imaging a radionuclide whose physiology closely mimics a metabolic process within bone. What are the contraindications?
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@kelton According to SNMMI guidelines, bone scintigraphy is usually not appropriate for initial staging in patients with low-risk breast cancer (clinical stage 0 or I) and no other clinical signs or symptoms of disease or for initial staging in patients with a low risk of metastatic prostate disease (PSA level < 10 ng/mL, Gleason score < 6, and no other clinical signs or symptoms of disease).
According to the EANM guidelines, bone scintigraphy may not be the preferred imaging modality in the following conditions :
Bone lesions with known inconsistent scintigraphy findings, such as plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, chordoma, or Ewing sarcoma.
Benign bone lesions and incidentalomas when properly characterized by radiologic imaging, including bone island, uncomplicated hemangioma, osteitis condensans ilii, nonossifying fibromas, asymptomatic enchondroma of the long bones, ganglion cyst, and asymptomatic Paget disease.
Symptomatic degenerative joint disease that is well characterized on radiologic imaging and is properly diagnosed based on the pain syndrome and a well-performed clinical examination.
Even though bone scintigraphy may in general not be the preferred imaging modality in the conditions listed above, this recommendation should be assessed within the specific clinical context of the patient.