title: The diagnostic value of bone scintigraphy in patients with back pain.
abstract: Background. The aim of the study was retrospective evaluation of planar bone scintigraphy in the diagnostics of back pain syndrome.<br /> Material and methods. The study included 252 patients referred to the Nuclear Medicine Department from the Rehabilitation and Spine Diseases Consulting Unit from January 2001 to June 2003. In all cases whole body radionuclide imaging was performed using Tc 99m -MDP. <br /> Results. Of patients suffering from a back pain 14% had normal scans. Among the causes of abnormal results in our study dominated changes of degenerative background - osteoarthritis (68,5%). In 26 patients (10,3%) pathological uptake was typical for metastatic disease.<br /> Conclusions. Bone scan offers the advantage of total body examination and images bone lesions earlier than other techniques. In selected cases, radionuclide imaging may explain the etiology of back pain syndrome and facilitate definite treatment.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Medycyny Nuklearnej i Endokrynologii Onkologicznej, Centrum Onkologii, Warszawa.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lapińska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niewiadomska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niesłuchowski
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benke
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kozłowicz-Gudzińska