Radionuclide Bone Imaging And Densitometry

This book, written by authors with national and international reputations in the field, covers all aspects of radionuclide and hybrid bone imaging. Introductory sections present the basic science and consider the current status and limitations of conventional radiological techniques. The underlying principles of PET-CT and SPECT-CT are carefully explained, and the value of different PET and SPECT tracers, assessed. The role of single- and dual-modality approaches in the imaging of benign bone diseases and malignancies is then discussed in detail in a series of well-illustrated chapters. The pathologies addressed include metabolic bone disease, arthritis, bone and joint infections, primary bone and soft tissue tumors, and metastases from breast and prostate cancer. A further section considers the role of bone scintigraphy in the pediatric patient, and the closing chapters focus on miscellaneous subjects, including bone densitometry and radionuclide targeted therapy.

This book, written by authors with national and international reputations in the field, covers all aspects of radionuclide and hybrid bone imaging. Introductory sections present the basic science and consider the current status and limitations of conventional radiological techniques. The underlying principles of PET-CT and SPECT-CT are carefully explained, and the value of different PET and SPECT tracers, assessed. The role of single- and dual-modality approaches in the imaging of benign bone diseases and malignancies is then discussed in detail in a series of well-illustrated chapters. The pathologies addressed include metabolic bone disease, arthritis, bone and joint infections, primary bone and soft tissue tumors, and metastases from breast and prostate cancer. A further section considers the role of bone scintigraphy in the pediatric patient, and the closing chapters focus on miscellaneous subjects, including bone densitometry and radionuclide targeted therapy.

The British Nuclear Medicine Society celebrates its 50th Anniversary with this booklet, which reflects the research of many of the pioneers in the use of radionuclides for the diagnosis and therapy of human disease. Since 1949 there have been remarkable advances in radionuclide techniques and imaging equipment: from the first devices “home-made” in the many physics departments throughout the UK, to the sophisticated multimodality imagers now in everyday use in Nuclear Medicine. The BNMS has been instrumental in promoting the use of radionuclide techniques in the investigation of pathology by supporting and providing education, research and guidelines on the optimum use of radiation to help patients. The future of Nuclear Medicine is bright, thanks to improved imaging resolution, new radiopharmaceuticals, and new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and procedures.

The most frequently requested investigation in any nuclear medicine department remains the technetium-99m (99mTc)-labelled diphosphonate bone scan. Despite rapid advances in all imaging modalities. there has been no serious challenge to the role of bone scanning in the evaluation of the skeleton. The main reason for this is the exquisite sensitivity of the bone scan for lesion detection. combined with clear visualisation of the whole skeleton. In recent years several new diphosphonate agents have become available with claims for superior imaging of the skeleton. Essentially. they all have higher affinity for bone. thus allowing the normal skeleton to be visualised all the more clearly. However. as will be dis cussed. this may occur at some cost to the principal role of bone scanning. lesion detection. The major strength of nuclear medicine is its ability to provide functional and physiological information. With bone scanning this leads to high sensitivity for focal disease if there has been any disturbance of skeletal metabolism. However. in many other clinical situations. and particularly in metabolic bone disease. more generalised alteration in skeletal turnover may occur. and quantitation of diphosphonate uptake by the skeleton can provide valuable clinical information.

Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD, FACP, and Lori Ann Lewis, MRT, CDT, have updated and expanded their highly praised Bone Densitometry for Technologists to reflect the latest standards and developments in the field. Here radiologic technologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dedicated densitometry technologists can find new guidelines for bone density testing, new therapies for osteoporosis, and new treatment guidelines for osteoporosis, as well as new chapters on pediatric densitometry, body composition assessments, and the use of skeletal morphometry in diagnosis and fracture risk prediction.

This publication was developed a part of the IAEA's efforts to contribute to the transfer of technology and knowledge in the application of dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA). It provides information on the theoretical background as well as on the practical application of DXA to measure bone mineral density and to assess body composition.