title: Nuclear medicine studies of aging--VI. Dual photon absorptiometry and bone scans in "at risk" women with back pain.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Danbury Hospital, CT 06810.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maturlo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Herrera
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D005682:Gadolinium; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate