title: Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of the joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of 99m-technetium methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scintigraphy on the detection of joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 20 male asymptomatic alpine ski racers (age range: 18-21 years). None of the skiers had a history of ski crashes. Bone scan findings of the racers were examined with Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy during the active racing season and the inactive training season. Planar anterior and posterior images of hip, knee, and ankle joints were obtained 4 h after intravenous injection of 20 mCi Tc-99m MDP. All images were interpreted visually by 2 experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Free regions of interest were drawn on hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as background regions. Joint-to-background ratios were calculated for each joint, and the uptake ratios of both right and left joints during active ski season were compared to those during the inactive training period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uptake ratios of the right and left hip, knee, and ankle joints were significantly higher during the active racing period than those calculated during the inactive period (P < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bone scintigraphy may have an important role in detecting joint injuries of hip, knee, and ankle joints in asymptomatic alpine ski racers and can be used successfully when MRI is unavailable.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varoğlui
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gürsoy
authors.forename: Bedri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seven
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uslus
authors.forename: Şirzat
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Çoğalgil
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiyici
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries*; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate