title: Fluoride kinetics of the axial skeleton measured in vivo with fluorine-18-fluoride PET.
abstract: The aim of this study was to quantify regional bone blood flow and influx rate with PET and [18F]fluoride in patients with metabolic bone disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dynamic imaging of the spine or pelvis was performed after administration of 300-370 MBq of 18F-. Plasma clearance of 18F- was determined in blood sampled from the radial artery. A three-compartment model was used to estimate the regional flow and fluoride influx rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this preliminary study, fluoride flux (in micromol/min/liter) could be measured regionally. The flux was consistent with the pathophysiology of the studied metabolic disorders and allowed the various disease states to be distinguished. Bone blood flow and influx rate were low in osteoporosis (in the "normal-appearing" bone) and high in Paget's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With PET and [18F]fluoride, local bone blood flow and fluoride influx rate can be quantified in patients in vivo. Metabolically active zones have an increased influx rate and an accordingly increased flow. In principle, this technique permits classification of bone disorders and has potential for the monitoring of therapy response in metabolic bone disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiepers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bormans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dequeker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouillon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mortelmans
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Roo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D005459:Fluorides