Full Body Scintigraphy

In the bone scintigraphy there is increased absorption of the radiopharmaceutical (technetium-labelled diphosphonate) by bones that are subject to a higher metabolic rate.  Depending on the problem being addressed, recording with the gamma camera is limited either to specific areas or extended to the whole body.

The interesting issue with the full body scintigraphy is the distribution of ‘hot spots’ throughout the skeletal system. This method is particularly suited to the search for skeletal metastases. Due to the high degree of sensitivity (small percent of false-negative findings) it has become the most important method in this field. With the aid of the scintigraphy it is possible to discover relevant pathological changes at a stage when an X-ray is still negative. The full body scintigraphy is therefore also part of the comprehensive examination when diagnosing a tumour.

The inflammation scintigraphy registers local radiation activity during absorption of the injected radiopharmaceutical, thereby revealing blood flow distribution.

Medical indication: Indication for a bone scintigraphy is given for suspected bone metastases, primary bone tumours, osteonecrosis, fatigue fractures (and prosthetic loosening) and to eliminate possible fractures. In compiling a scintigraphy it must be remembered that physiological skeletal changes are accompanied by increased storage. This is particularly true for degenerative diseases and for bones that are still growing (where storage is increased close to epiphyseal fusions).

In particular soft tissue tumours can be defined with the scintigraphy in soft tissue. This examination calls for special medical indications.