title: Prevalence of exclusive lower extremity metastases at (18)F-NaF PET/CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of exclusive lower extremity metastases, specifically in the femur and below the knee, observed at (18)F-NaF PET/CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand consecutive PET/CT studies were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of exclusive uptake in lower extremities suggesting metastatic involvement. The presumptive diagnoses based on such uptakes were subsequently obtained by evaluation of other imaging studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No exclusive uptake suggestive of metastasis below the femur was observed in the present series. Exclusive uptake was observed in the proximal femur with a presumptive diagnosis of metastasis in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of exclusive metastasis below the femur is low and scanning from head to knees is appropriate in most cases.
authors.affiliation: MD, Resident, Center of Nuclear Medicine, Instituto de Radiologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InRad/HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monique Beraldo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ordones
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Physician at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Agnes Araujo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Valadares
authors.affiliation: PhDs, Physician Assistants, Service of Nuclear Medicine, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira (Icesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Schiavom
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: PhDs, Physician Assistants, Service of Nuclear Medicine, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira (Icesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heitor Naoki
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Sado
authors.affiliation: Physician Assistants, Service of Nuclear Medicine, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira (Icesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Santos
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Physician Assistants, Service of Nuclear Medicine, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira (Icesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Private Docent, Professor, Department of Radiology and Oncology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Tatit
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sapienza
authors.affiliation: Private Docent, Full Professor, Department of Radiology and Oncology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Buchpiguel
keywords: 18F-NaF; Bone; Metastasis; PET/CT; Scintigraphy