The value of fluorine-18 for scanning bone tumours

The mechanisms of uptake of fluorine and strontium by normal as well as abnormal bone are described and the advantages of fluorine for scanning are emphasized. The scanning technique is discussed and a method for accurate reduction in size of the radiographic image to correspond exactly with that of the scan image is described. Attempts to increase fluorine-18 uptake by regional hydrogen peroxide infusion were unsuccessful. The great value of scanning primary tumours of bone lies in the early detection of recurrent disease following treatment by irradiation. The value of scanning secondary tumours in bone lies in the early detection of metastatic disease in the presence of a normal radiograph. Benign conditions of bone liable to cause difficulty in interpretation are illustrated.