title: Current role of bone scan with phosphonates in the follow-up of breast cancer.
abstract: A number of studies have demonstrated that bone scintigraphy has high sensitivity and efficacy in the early detection of bone metastases from several tumours, including breast cancer. Bone scintigraphy is the most definitive tool for diagnosing and monitoring metastatic spread of breast cancer. However, in the past decade there has been a wide debate on its impact on survival time, morbidity and quality of life. Worldwide economic restrictions and these studies have led to the adoption of an almost minimalist policy for breast cancer follow-up using evidence-based guidelines. The recommended breast cancer surveillance testing includes only a few procedures (history, physical and breast self-examination, patient education on symptoms, pelvic examination). The routine use of additional tests, such as blood cell count, tumour markers, liver ultrasonography, bone scan and chest X-rays, is not recommended. Accordingly, scintigraphy should be reserved for a limited number of patients. On the other hand, early diagnosis of bone involvement may reduce the risk of skeletal related events, thus leading to a significant improvement in quality of life. Furthermore, new drugs (e.g. bisphosphonates) can now delay the onset of bone metastasis and reduce the number of patients who experience skeletal complications. In conclusion, the evidence of the clinical usefulness of bone scintigraphy (to allow early planning of new treatments in advanced disease) has to be re-evaluated, possibly by large randomised prospective trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Ospedale A. Manzoni, Via dell'Eremo 9/11, 23900 Lecco, Italy. l.maffioli@ospedale.lecco.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maffioli
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Florimonte
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Butti
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roca
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals