title: Artifactual reduction in bone density as a result of technetium-99m MDP for bone scanning: report of two cases.
abstract: We present two patients in whom marked changes in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-measured bone mineral density were found to be the result of prior administration of technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) for bone scanning. In patient 1, an artifactual 50% decrease in lumbar spine and 19% decrease in left total hip bone density over a 14-mo period was the result of technetium-99m injection 3 h before the second bone density measurement. In patient 2, a dramatic increase in bone density at 6 mo was the result of artifactual reduction in bone density on the baseline study as a result of technetium-99m injection 2 h earlier. Clinicians and technologists should be aware that technetium-99m used for bone scanning could cause artifactual reduction in DXA-measured bone mineral density.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine-Diabetes Center, St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Pennapa S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Neil C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Binkley
authors.forename: Beth M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lalande
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shaker
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D015519:Bone Density / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate