Nuclear medicine studies of aging--VI. Dual photon absorptiometry and bone scans in "at risk" women with back pain.
We studied 20 women who were at risk for osteoporosis (postmenopausal, or on dialysis, or on steroids), who presented with severe back pain. Patients underwent a dual photon (153Gd) densitometry study of the L2-L4 vertebrae, as well as an emission bone scan (99mTc-MDP). The dual photon method revealed abnormal results (20% or more below the mean expected value) in 13/20 patients (65%), and below the "fracture threshold" in 15/20 (75%). The emission bone scan delineated abnormal foci of uptake in 15/19 (79%). We conclude that women at risk for osteoporosis, who present with severe back pain, are likely to have a positive bone scan due to compression fracture or other derangements related to bone demineralization.
Gupta
S M
SM
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Danbury Hospital, CT 06810.
Tung
M
M
Spencer
R P
RP
Maturlo
S
S
Davies
T
T
Herrera
N E
NE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
D011868:Radioisotopes; D005682:Gadolinium; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate