Sensitivity in detecting osseous lesions depends on anatomic localization: planar bone scintigraphy versus 18F PET.

Radionuclide bone scanning (RNB) is considered to be the most practical screening technique for assessing the entire skeleton for skeletal metastases. However, RNB has been shown to be of lower sensitivity than MRI and CT in detecting osteolytic metastases. A prospective study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of planar RNB versus tomographic bone imaging with 18F-labeled NaF and PET (18F PET) in detecting osteolytic and osteoblastic metastases and its dependency on their anatomic localization. METHODS: Forty-four patients with known prostate, lung or thyroid carcinoma were examined with both planar RNB and 18F PET. A panel of reference methods including MRI of the spine, 1311 scintigraphy, conventional radiography and spiral CT was used as the gold standard. RNB and 18F PET were compared by a lesion-by-lesion analysis using a five-point score for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: 18F PET showed 96 metastases (67 of prostate carcinoma and 29 of lung or thyroid cancer), whereas RNB revealed 46 metastases (33 of prostate carcinoma and 13 of lung or thyroid cancer). All lesions found with RNB were also detected with 18F PET. Compared with 18F PET and the reference methods, RNB had a sensitivity of 82.8% in detecting malignant and benign osseous lesions in the skull, thorax and extremities and a sensitivity of 40% in the spine and pelvis. The area under the ROC curve was 0.99 for 18F PET and 0.64 for RNB. CONCLUSION: 18F PET is more sensitive than RNB in detecting osseous lesions. With RNB, sensitivity in detecting osseous metastases is highly dependent on anatomic localization of these lesions, whereas detection rates of osteoblastic and osteolytic metastases are similar. Higher detection rates and more accurate differentiation between benign and malignant lesions with 18F PET suggest the use of 18F PET when possible.     

Comparison of bone scintigraphy and 18F-FDG PET-CT in a prostate cancer patient with osteolytic bone metastases

A 62?year-old male with prostate cancer, recently complaining lumbar pain with elevated PSA level (6.83?ng/ml) was referred for evaluating bone metastases. Bone scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-MDP demonstrated intense uptake on third lumbar vertebra. Postoperative biopsy of the lesion on third lumbar vertebra revealed adenocarcinoma metastasis. For evaluating distant metastases and restaging, (18)F-FDG PET-CT was performed postoperatively. On PET-CT imaging there were cervical and left parailiac lymph nodes with FDG uptake, destruction on third lumbar vertebra level and intense soft tissue mass FDG uptake on the same area. Additionally, FDG uptake was detected on right iliac crest. On the CT images obtained by integrated PET-CT scanner, this uptake was matching with lytic bone metastases. The superiority of (18)F-FDG PET-CT for demonstrating osteolytic bone metastases compared to bone scintigraphy was presented in a case of prostate cancer in a patient with bone and lymph node metastases.     

Endometrioid endometrial carcinoma of no-specific-molecular-profile with multiple bone metastases and muscle involvement: Case report and review of the literature

Bone metastasis and muscular involvement in endometrial carcinoma are rare, and information on molecular profiles of endometrial carcinoma with bone metastasis is scarce. We present a case of an 83-year old woman with a poorly differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma of no-specific-molecular-profile with para-aortic lymph node involvement, who underwent surgery, received adjuvant chemotherapy and vaginal brachytherapy but declined external beam radiotherapy. Fifteen months after the initial diagnosis she presented with pain in her right leg. Imaging showed an osteolytic lesion in the right femur with soft-tissue involvement. She underwent an open biopsy and protective osteosynthesis. Histologically, infiltrates of both bone and muscle were consistent with metastasis derived from endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. She received concomitant palliative chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy to the right femur. Eleven months later, she presented with an acute hemiparesis caused by a right-sided subacute, superior frontal gyrus infarct, which also showed aggressive bone metastasis of the left sphenoid bone. She subsequently died 2 weeks later. This is a rare case of multiple bone metastases and muscle involvement in endometrial carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported such case in endometrial carcinoma showing no-specific-molecular-profile.     

骨原发性恶性纤维组织细胞瘤影像诊断

目的探讨骨原发性恶性纤维组织细胞瘤(BMFH)影像表现及诊断要点。方法回顾性分析6例经病理确诊为BMFH的X线、CT及MRI表现。结果4例侵犯单骨,2例侵犯多骨。溶骨型4例,混合型2例。股骨下端3例,肱骨上端1例,楔骨1例,横突1例,共侵犯12个骨骼。6例均有骨及骨皮质明显破坏,以溶骨性破坏为主,2例病灶周围有轻度骨硬化。全部病例均有软组织肿块,巨大肿块2例,局限性肿块4例,1例肿块内可见散在小钙化影。全部病例未见骨膜反应,3例合并病理性骨折。结论原发性BMFH好发于长骨干骺端或骨端,多见于股骨下端及胫骨上端。虫蚀状或大片状溶骨性骨质破坏,巨大软组织肿块,无骨膜反应,是其影像学特点,诊断需密切结合临床和病理。     

Comparison of FDG PET and SPECT for detection of bone metastases in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of FDG PET and bone SPECT for diagnosing bone metastases in breast cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was a prospective series of 15 patients with breast cancer who underwent both PET and bone scanning with SPECT. Comparison was performed on a lesion-by-lesion analysis. MDCT, MRI, and the patient's clinical course were used as references. RESULTS: In the lesion-by-lesion analysis (n = 900), the sensitivity for diagnosing bone metastases was 85% for SPECT and 17% for PET, specificity was 99% for SPECT and 100% for PET, and accuracy was 96% for SPECT and 85% for PET. In the statistical analysis, bone SPECT was significantly superior to FDG PET for its sensitivity (p < 0.0001) and accuracy (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was seen with regard to specificity. When classifying the bone metastases as osteoblastic or osteolytic, bone scanning classified 92% of metastases as osteoblastic and 35% of metastases as osteolytic, whereas PET classified 6% of metastases as osteoblastic and 90% of metastases as osteolytic. CONCLUSION: Bone SPECT is superior to FDG PET in detecting bone metastases in breast cancer. The sensitivity of osteoblastic lesions is limited with FDG PET. Surveillance of metastatic spread to the skeleton in breast cancer patients based on FDG PET alone is not possible.     

Delayed diagnosis of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the sacrum

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of bone is a rare, malignant hematologic tumor affecting most commonly persons in the fourth decade of life. The tumor produces predominantly osteolytic lesions usually in the femur and pelvic bones and, very rarely, may present with spinal epidural involvement. The authors discuss an interesting case of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of bone involving the sacrum with epidural invasion, in which the atypical imaging findings along with negative biopsy results delayed diagnosis.     

Bone metastases in breast cancer: higher prevalence of osteosclerotic lesions

PURPOSE: It is well known that bone metastases from breast cancer usually show osteolytic changes. We retrospectively analysed the computed tomography (CT) appearance of bone metastases to quantify the distribution of lytic, mixed and sclerotic changes in a series of patients presenting with neoplastic bone involvement from breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2005, 468 women with a diagnosis of breast cancer were referred to our department for staging or follow-up CT examinations. Staging CT examinations detected systemic metastases in 142/468 patients, 60 of which had bone involvement. Patients with a second primary tumour or bone metabolic disorders were excluded from this retrospective analysis. RESULTS: In patients with bone metastases, CT identified 18 with osteolytic lesions (30%), 32 with osteosclerotic lesions (53.3%) and ten with mixed lesions (16.7%). Analysis of the cases observed for the first time during the 1996-2000 period showed osteolytic lesions in 53.6% (15/28), osteosclerotic lesions in 32.1% (9/28) and mixed lesions in 14.3% (4/28). Results were 9.4% (3/32), 71.9% (23/32) and 18.7% (6/32), respectively, for the same groups in the 2001-2005 period. Histological analysis of all cases included 81.9% of infiltrative ductal carcinoma, 11.2% of infiltrative lobular carcinoma, 3.7% of ductal lobular mixed carcinoma and 3% of medullar carcinoma. We found no statistically significant correlation between histological type of breast cancer and radiological appearance of bone metastasis. A significant difference between patients treated with or without zoledronic acid was observed, with a higher prevalence of osteosclerotic lesions in the former group of patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We observed an increasing prevalence of osteosclerotic bone metastasis when comparing the 1996-2000 period with the 2001-2005 period. The significance of these distribution changes is not clear. However, we found a significant correlation of osteosclerotic lesions with zoledronic acid treatment. The advent of third generation bisphosphonates may have changed the CT appearance of bone metastasis from breast cancer.     

Prostate cancer bone metastases confined to the distal left lower limb

Bone metastases from prostate cancer most commonly affect the axial and proximal appendicular skeleton with rare involvement of the distal limbs. We describe a case of multiple bone metastases confined to the left lower limb in a patient with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. Following an initial post-operative PSA rise, the patient received a course of salvage radiotherapy to the pelvis, however, the PSA level continued to rise and two consequent staging CT scans were negative for local recurrence and metastatic disease. Subsequent development of left ankle pain and swelling led the patient to present to his General Practitioner, which triggered a series of imaging investigations that revealed isolated left lower limb bone metastases. This case report highlights the need to consider peripheral limb bone metastases in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, particularly in the setting of a negative staging CT scan and/or bone pain.     

肝癌骨转移瘤的CT诊断（附27例分析）

目的探讨肝癌骨转移瘤的CT诊断价值。方法对经临床或病理证实27例肝癌骨转移瘤的病人进行回顾性分析。结果CT均表现为溶骨性破坏。累及主要部位依次为脊柱7例（26%）,肋骨6例（22%）,骨盆5例（19%）,股骨3例（11%）。结论CT扫描显示病变明显优于X线平片,对多数病变能作出正确诊断。     

Bone and skeletal muscle metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma: unusual radiographic, CT and scintigraphic features

Skeletal metastatic lesions arising from gastric cancer are uncommon and usually of the osteolytic type. In order to gain a better understanding of its radiological spectrum, we report two atypical cases of skeletal metastases from gastric adenocarcinoma presenting with unusual radiographic, CT and scintigraphic features. In one patient multiple ossifying skeletal muscle metastases and bone metastases with spiculated periosteal reaction occurred as a presenting manifestation of the malignant disease. The other patient developed widespread osteosclerotic metastases with a superscan pattern on bone scintigraphy. Received 18 July 1997; Revision received 14 November 1997; Accepted 9 December 1997     

Sclerotic bone metastases from sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma

We present a case of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with multiple sclerotic skeletal metastatic lesions. Renal cell carcinoma is frequently metastatic at presentation, with a high incidence of skeletal involvement, classically described as osteolytic. However, sclerotic or osteoblastic metastatic skeletal lesions from renal cell carcinoma are rare, with only two previous reports identified in the literature, neither of which involved the sarcomatoid variant of renal cell carcinoma. In our case the sclerotic metastases were characterized by bone scan, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and histologic analysis. Received: 8 April 1999 Revision requested: 27 May 1999 Revision received: 24 June 1999 Accepted: 29 June 1999     

Q Fever masquerading as prostate cancer metastases

We report a case of Q fever demonstrated on (99m)Tc methylene diphosphonate bone scan and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT. A 66-year-old man with newly diagnosed, low-grade prostate cancer presented with abdominal and bone pain. Bone scan revealed multiple lesions suspicious for prostate cancer metastases. Because of liver abnormalities on noncontrast CT, an FDG PET/CT was performed and demonstrated FDG-avid sclerotic bone lesions, infiltrative liver disease, and retroperitoneal adenopathy. This appearance, thought unusual for low-grade prostate cancer, prompted extensive clinical evaluation for several months. Liver and iliac bone biopsies showed noncaseating granulomas without neoplasia. Extensive serologic evaluation eventually demonstrated elevated Q fever titers.     

Potential of (99m)Tc-MIBI for detecting bone marrow metastases.

In this study, we evaluated the potential of (99m)Tc-hexakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) for detecting bone metastases in comparison with a conventional bone tracer. METHODS: (99m)Tc-MIBI and (99m)Tc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) scans were obtained from 99 patients with proven malignant diseases and suspected bone metastases. We compared 373 lesions that showed abnormal uptake on (99m)Tc-MIBI scans or (99m)Tc-HMDP scans (or both). RESULTS: Bone metastases were confirmed in 334 of 373 lesions. Thirty-nine lesions on (99m)Tc-HMDP scans had false-positive findings, but only 2 of these lesions had false-positive findings on (99m)Tc-MIBI scans. (99m)Tc-MIBI and (99m)Tc-HMDP scans were equivalent in 168 of 334 lesions (50.3%). (99m)Tc-MIBI scans correctly detected more lesions than (99m)Tc-HMDP scans: 284 lesions (85.0%) versus 218 lesions (65.3%) (P < 0.005), respectively. (99m)Tc-MIBI scans showed a markedly higher sensitivity for detecting metastases in the femur and humerus compared with (99m)Tc-HMDP scans: 97 of 98 lesions (99.0%) versus 35 of 98 lesions (35.7%) (P < 0.005) and 21 of 22 lesions (95.5%) versus 11 of 22 lesions (50.0%) (P < 0.005), respectively. (99m)Tc-HMDP scans of 17 patients showed no abnormal images. However, (99m)Tc-MIBI scans correctly detected bone metastases, and subsequent development of multiple lesions was observed on follow-up (99m)Tc-HMDP scans of 15 patients. (99m)Tc-MIBI scans were superior to (99m)Tc-HMDP scans in the detection of metastases attributed to breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and hepatoma. On the contrary, (99m)Tc-MIBI scans were less sensitive than (99m)Tc-HMDP scans for detecting bone metastases attributed to prostate cancer in the other skeletal sites except for femur and humerus. CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-MIBI scans have better sensitivity for detecting bone metastases and provide more specific complementary findings than conventional bone scans. (99m)Tc-MIBI accumulation attributed to bone marrow metastases may occur at an early stage, before the bone remodeling process in the surrounding bone can be detected on conventional bone scans.     

Bony metastases of the fingers. Apropos of 3 cases. Review of the literature

Bone metastases of fingers are rare, are of highest incidence in men 40 to 60 years, and may reveal the presence of a primary cancer. Radiologic imaging shows almost constant osteolytic lesions, the primary usually being located in the bronchi. Short-term prognosis is poor, with a mean survival of three and a half months. Bone biopsy should be conducted routinely to determine nature of lesion in fingers.     

Unusual bilateral Tc-99m DPD uptake on bone scan

A 74-year-old man with prostate cancer was screened for bone metastases. The scan exhibited severe degenerative skeletal changes (especially in the spine and the right knee) and catheter drainage of the bladder, but obviously no bone metastases. Surprisingly, 2 almost symmetric "devil-like"-looking lesions were noted in the frontolateral skull. The patient was treated with bilateral bore hole trepanation because of a subdural hematoma 3 weeks earlier. The lesions can be interpreted as augmented bone metabolism in these regions. Although subdural hematoma is fairly common (incidence, 15:100,000 annually), bilateral trepanation is only performed in approximately 5% of patients.     

Intraosseous osteolytic lesions. Diagnostic, differential diagnosis and therapy (author's transl)

Any pathological damage occurring in a bone will produce either an osteolytic or osteosclerotic lesion which can be seen in the macroscopic specimen as well as in the roentgenogram. Various bone lesions may lead to local destructions of the bone. An osteoma or osteoplastic osteosarcoma produces an osteosclerotic lesion showing a dense mass in the roentgenogram; a chondroblastoma or an osteoclastoma, on the other had, induces an osteolytic focal lesion. This paper presents examples of different osteolytic lesions of the humerus. An osteolytic lesion seen in the roentgenogram may be either produced by an underlying non-ossifying fibroma of the bone, by fibrous dysplasia, osteomyelitis or Ewing's sarcoma. Differential diagnostic considerations based on the radiological picture include eosinophilic bone granuloma, juvenile or aneurysmal bone cyst, multiple myeloma or bone metastases. Serious differential diagnostic problems may be involved in case of osteolytic lesions occurring in the humerus. Cases of this type involving complications have been reported and include the presence of an teleangiectatic osteosarcoma as well as that of a hemangiosarcoma of the bone.     

Case report 726

A case of Ollier's disease is demonstrated. Large osteolytic lesions in the left femur and hemipelvis visible on the roentgenograms represent enchondromas. On CT and MRI studies numerous fine translucencies are demonstrated in the surrounding bone, corresponding to multiple cartilaginous foci. These findings may be considered pathognomonic for enchondromatosis (Ollier's disease). In addition, the nature of Ollier's disease and its predilection for malignant transformation are considered. The major differential diagnostic entity in this case was probably fibrous dysplasia.     

Enhanced uptake of 99Tcm-MDP in skeletal metastases from prostate cancer following initiation of hormone treatment: potential for increasing delivery of therapeutic agents.

Following androgen ablation therapy, skeletal metastases from prostate cancer appear in some instances to show an increase in 99Tcm-methylene diphosphonate (99Tcm-MDP) uptake. Such a phenomenon could represent a mechanism to increase delivery of bone-seeking therapeutic agents to skeletal metastatic sites. The aim of this study was to characterize more precisely the potential increase in 99Tcm-MDP in skeletal metastases from prostate cancer following initiation of hormone therapy. Baseline bone scans were performed within 1 week of onset of hormone therapy in patients with stage D2 prostate cancer followed by multiple repeat bone scans for up to 4-6 weeks. The count density within metastatic lesions was divided by the average count density from several areas of normal bone to obtain a lesion to normal bone uptake ratio (L/N) for each lesion in each scan. Altogether, 61 skeletal metastases were identified on bone scans from five subjects. Eighty-four percent (51/61) of these lesions showed an increase in 99Tcm-MDP activity relative to normal bone following initiation of hormone therapy with a mean peak increase of 39%. Thirty-nine of these 51 metastatic lesions showed maximum uptake at 3 weeks post-onset of hormone treatment. From our findings, it appears that approximately 3 weeks following initiation of hormone blockade, most skeletal metastases from prostate cancer will demonstrate significantly enhanced 99Tcm uptake relative to normal bone. Consequently, it may be possible to improve the uptake and effectiveness of therapeutic bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals by administering these agents following hormone therapy in patients with prostate cancer metastases.     

Vascular tumors of bone: Imaging findings

Purpose

To identify radiological features of malignant vascular tumors of bone, which can be used to avoid erroneously diagnosing metastases based on radiological multifocality, and histological epitheloid phenotype.

Materials and methods

From the databases of the Bologna & Netherlands Committee on Bone Tumors, 63 patients with a histological diagnosis of malignant vascular tumor of bone were retrieved. Epidemiological and imaging characteristics were recorded on a case record form.

Results

In 63 patients, 185 lesions were detected by radiographs (61 patients) and/or CT (30 patients) and/or MRI (19 patients). Multifocality was observed in 25 patients (40%), in these patients most lesions were located in the femur. Typically lesions were well-defined, osteolytic, had a geographically pattern of destruction and were also located in the femur. Most lesions showed cortical destruction (118 lesions). No periosteal reaction was seen in most cases (121 lesions). In 13 of 39 patients (33%) tumor extension was more advanced and/or (additional) lesions (29 lesions; 17%) were visible on MRI and CT. In 20 cases (51%) cortex destruction was better shown on CT or MRI. In six patients (15%) periosteal reaction was only seen on MRI or CT and not on radiographs. In 16 (41%) cases soft tissue extension was only seen on MRI or CT, and not on radiographs. Extensive reactive changes on T2-weighted images were seen in 11 patients (58%).

Conclusion

When single, or regional multifocal osteolytic, well-marginated lesions with cortical destruction are seen, in the femur, and with marked reactive soft tissue changes on MRI, a diagnosis of malignant vascular tumor should trigger the use of additional immunohistochemistry to confirm the vascular nature of the tumor.

Clinical relevance statement

Because of epithelioid phenotype at histology, radiological signs are key in entertaining a diagnosis of malignant vascular tumor of bone which should trigger the use of appropriate immunohistochemical stainings.     

骨原始神经外胚叶肿瘤影像学表现

目的研究骨原始神经外胚叶肿瘤的影像学特点。资料与方法搜集5例骨原始神经外胚叶肿瘤的影像及临床、手术病理资料,分析其影像学表现。结果5例中．胸椎2例,胸壁、股骨、胫骨各1例。1例胸壁病变表现为巨大软组织肿块,并推移周围组织。2例脊椎病变破坏椎管内外骨质及软组织。2例四肢长骨病变呈溶骨性骨质破坏,1例有软组织肿块。5例均未见病变内钙化及局部淋巴结肿大。MRI对显示病变组织成分及侵袭范围较X线和CT好。结论溶骨性骨破坏和巨大软组织肿块是骨原始神经外胚叶肿瘤的常见影像学表现,病灶内钙化和局部淋巴结肿大少见。MR／对显示病变组织成分及侵袭范围较好。本病最终诊断依靠病理和免疫组织化学检查。