What is the FDG PET scintigraphy?

Background: Bone scintigraphy is the standard procedure for the detection of bone metastases in breast cancer patients. FDG-PET/CT has been reported to be a sensitive tool for tumor staging in different malignant diseases.

Which is better bone scan or PET scan?

In general, osteoblastic lesions are more readily detectable by bone scan and osteolytic lesions from glucose-avid primary malignancies are more readily detectable by FDG PET/CT. Overall, PET/CT is shown to be more specific for metastatic disease than bone scan.

Can a PET scan see bones?

PET scans can help show the spread of bone cancer to the lungs, other bones, or other parts of the body. They can also be used to see how well the cancer is responding to treatment.

How accurate is a PET scan for bone cancer?

The detection rates of 18F-FDG PET in previous studies were 80–100% (39,40), while the detection rates of bone scans were 61 and 75% (39).

How is scintigraphy done?

A small amount of a radioactive chemical (radionuclide) is injected into a vein or swallowed. Different radionuclides travel through the blood to different organs. A machine with a special camera moves over the person lying on a table and detects the type of radiation given off by the radionuclides.

Is PET a scintigraphy?

In contrast, SPECT and positron emission tomography (PET) form 3-dimensional images and are therefore classified as separate techniques from scintigraphy, although they also use gamma cameras to detect internal radiation.

Why would a doctor order a bone scan?

Your doctor may order a bone scan if you have unexplained skeletal pain, a bone infection or a bone injury that can’t be seen on a standard X-ray. A bone scan can also be an important tool for detecting cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the bone from the tumor’s original location, such as the breast or prostate.

Why would a urologist order a bone scan?

Bone scans may be used to see if prostate, bladder, kidney , testicular or penile cancer has advanced. Although the number of bone scans has decreased over the years, these studies are helpful in assessing advanced urologic cancers. In these studies, a radionuclide is injected into the body.

Does a bone tumor hurt?

Pain in the area of the tumor is the most common sign of bone cancer. At first, the pain might not be there all the time. It may get worse at night or when the bone is used, such as when walking for a tumor in a leg bone. Over time, the pain can become more constant, and it might get worse with activity.

Does a PET scan show all cancers?

Not all cancers show up on a PET scan. PET scan results are often used with other imaging and lab test results. Other tests are often needed to find out whether an area that collected a lot of radioactive material is non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).