Bone scintigraphy in bone metastases due to prostatic cancer

Findings of bone scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP were compared with bone radiography and biochemical data including total acid phosphatase (T. ACP), prostatic acid phosphatase (P. ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in 35 patients with histologically proven prostatic cancer. Bone metastases were diagnosed in 20 of 35 cases (57%) by scintigraphy. The common sites of metastases were the pelvic bones, ribs, lumbar and thoracic vertebrae. In vertebrae, metastases were mainly distributed in the lower level. The most frequent radiographic change due to metastases was the osteoblastic type. On follow-up studies, there was a relatively good agreement in the results of bone scintigraphy and radiography. However, there was a good number of cases showing discrepancy between either scintigraphy or radiography and laboratory data. Bone scintigraphy seems to be the most contributory in monitoring bone metastases from prostatic cancer.