title: Bone scintigraphy in idiopathic aseptic femoral head necrosis (IAFHN).
abstract: Idiopathic aseptic femoral head necrosis (IAFHN) is a disease of unknown aetiology most commonly affecting adults, producing functional impairment of the hip joint and immobility. Characteristic macroscopic, microscopic and radiologic features include: (1) changes in joint cartilage, (2) subchondral necrotic area, (3) changes in fibrous tissue, and (4) osteosclerosis and vascular proliferation. The diagnosis is based on clinical and X-ray examinations. More recently scintigraphy has been used in diagnosing IAFHN. It is a very sensitive, but non-specific method. Nineteen patients aged 25-57 years were included in our study. Scintigrams were divided in four groups: (1) normal, (2) uniformly increased activity in the femoral head, (3) non-uniformly increased activity in the femoral head, and (4) a photon deficient area in the femoral head. A comparison of scintigraphy and radiological examination suggests that a photon deficient area corresponds with stage III of radiological classification, non-uniformly increased activity with stage II, and uniformly increased activity with stage I. These results indicate that scintigraphy can be used for staging of disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004164:Diphosphonates; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D013667:Technetium; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate