Clinical Evaluation of Transaxial Bone Imaging with 99mTc-Phosphate Compounds

Single photon emission computed tomography using newly designed whole body imaging system which was composed of opposing dual gamma cameras, a rotating gantry and a sliding table was clinically evaluated for bone imaging. Two hundred and seventeen portions of various bone diseases were performed single photon emission computed tomography following conventional bone imaging with 99mTc-MDP (methylen diphosphonate) or -HMDP (hydroxymethylene diphosphonate) and the results were discussed. Transaxial images were sometimes superior than conventional images in the diagnosis of the tumor localization and extension of the facial bone. Combination of emission computed tomography to conventional methods also presented more exact inf ormations for the diagnosis of the vertebral change. Separation of the overlapped radioactivities of the bone and the soft tissue is another advantage of the tomographic image, and cross-sectional images with enoughly high qualities were available in early time after administration of 99mTc-phosphate compounds. Useful diagnostic inf ormations could be obtained by tomographic bone imaging combined with conventional imagings.