technetium-tc-99m-medronate and Sarcoidosis--Pulmonary

Routine use of diagnostic radioisotope bone scanning in patients with sarcoidosis has not previously been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess whether routine radioisotope bone scanning might be of value in the detection of osseous lesions in sarcoidosis.. 63 consecutive Caucasian patients (32 men) with a median age of 39 years (range 17-66) and biopsy proven pulmonary sarcoidosis were included. None had symptoms suggesting osseous sarcoidosis. Extrathoracic, non-osseous sarcoidosis was present in 24 patients; 13 patients were on oral steroids. Radioisotope bone scanning was performed with a gammacamera after intravenous injection of 99mTechnetium-methylenediphosphonate. An abnormal bone scan was followed by a radiograph of the region of interest.. 39 patients (61.9%) had normal bone scans. Minor bone scan abnormalities were found in 24 patients (38.1%). Of these, 11 patients had bone foci (8 in the vertebral spine, 9 in the ribs, 1 in a finger). Radiographically only one of these 11 patients had a bony lesion being typical of sarcoidosis, located in the second finger. 17 patients had joint foci. Radiographs of the joints showed sequelae after a fracture in 1 patient, and degenerative osteoarthritis in 1 patient. There was no difference between clinical and paraclinical variables in patients with normal and abnormal bone scans.. There appears to be no indication for routine radioisotope bone scanning in patients with sarcoidosis. Scanning should be restricted to patients with clinical suspicion of osseous sarcoidosis.

Topics: Adult; Bone and Bones; Bone Diseases; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Female; Humans; Male; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Sarcoidosis; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Topics: Female; Humans; Lung; Middle Aged; Radionuclide Imaging; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate