Utility of planar bone scintigraphy to distinguish benign osteochondromas from malignant chondrosarcomas.
OBJECTIVE
The current study was designed to evaluate the role of planar bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of sarcomatous change in osteochondromas (cartilaginous exostoses).


METHODS
Histologically verified cases of chondrosarcoma and osteochondroma, in which Tc-99m bone scintigraphy was performed, were reviewed in a retrospective study.


RESULTS
Twenty-two cases were evaluated. Of 11 cases with chondrosarcomas, 8 (73%) had clearly increased tracer uptake, whereas the remaining cases had normal or decreased tracer uptake. Of the 11 cases with osteochondromas, 8 (73%) had clearly increased tracer uptake, whereas the remaining cases had normal or decreased tracer uptake. No significant difference in the distribution of scintigraphic results was noted between the two pathoanatomic groups (p = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, single standing planar bone scintigraphy has no value in distinguishing benign osteochondromas from malignant chondrosarcomas.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. heele@hendel.dk
Helle W
HW
Hendel
Soeren
S
Daugaard
Andreas
A
Kjaer
D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015831:Osteochondroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013667:Technetium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D013667:Technetium