A study of old lesions of caisson disease of bone by radiography and bone scintigraphy.
A group of patients were studied 10 years after stopping work in a high-pressure environment. Radiographs of their long bones showed little change during the period, but only two of 12 scintigrams were normal. The 10 abnormal scintigrams contained 18 "hot-spots" which were not always associated with an abnormal radiographic appearance; the findings suggest that some lesions may never become visible on a radiograph. A reactive or repair process associated with these lesions may be prolonged and may not be beneficial, as structural failure of the joint may subsequently occur. Prognosis should therefore be guarded.
D000328:Adult; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors