Bone scintigraphy in metabolic bone disease

Abstract

Metabolic bone diseases are a diverse group of skeletal disorders that can lead to global or focal/multifocal changes in bone metabolism and structure. They are often associated with biochemical as well as microscopic or macroscopic morphologic changes. Diagnosis relies on the detection, characterisation and measurement of these alterations, and imaging plays a significant role in diagnosis and monitoring of metabolic bone disorders. Some features of metabolic bone disorders, or their complications, can be detected with plain film radiography or cross-sectional imaging techniques such as CT and MRI, but the superior sensitivity of bone scintigraphy as a functional technique can be valuable for diagnosis, detection of complications and monitoring of treatment response.