Nanocolloid Imaging in Early Bone or Marrow Metastatic Spread

Abstract

As bone marrow is richer in blood supply than bone, it seems likely that the initial spread of metastatic disease is to marrow rather than bone. In order to explore this possibility and, hopefully, the rate at which the cortex becomes affected, 20 patients have undergone bone marrow imaging as well as conventional bone studies. The bone and marrow images were compared for each patient and the number and sizes of the lesions noted. Results suggest that marrow lesions are often larger or more numerous than corresponding bone lesions, indicating that bone involvement may well follow marrow. Accurate positioning and experienced interpretation of the images are vital as it is difficult to detect “cold” lesions in areas of poor count rate, and obscuring liver and spleen uptake. The immediate benefit to patients has been to confirm the diagnosis of secondary disease in equivocal bone images.