title: The value of non-staging skeletal scintigraphy in breast cancer.
abstract: A series of 315 patients with histologically proven breast cancer had skeletal scintigraphy performed for defined reasons other than initial staging. Of these, 173 (55%) were found to be abnormal. The yield of abnormalities was highest (83%) in patients with bone pain or tenderness and radiographic evidence of metastases: 38% in those with bone pain or tenderness alone, 37% in asymptomatic patients with local or regional recurrence and 54% in those with non-bony metastases. The overall actuarial survival over a maximum follow-up of 9 years was significantly worse for those with abnormal scintigraphy. Non-staging skeletal scintigraphy is useful in detecting asymptomatic bone metastases at the time of local or regional recurrence or in the presence of non-bony metastases.
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C019561:technetium Tc 99m etidronate; D013667:Technetium; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate