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IMAGE INTERPRETATION · BONE IMAGING

Bone Metastases: Prostate and Breast Primaries

Whole-body Tc-99m MDP bone scan — anterior and posterior projections showing skeletal metastases pattern
Whole-body Tc-99m MDP bone scan — anterior and posterior projections showing skeletal metastases pattern

Provided clinical image

Question

A bone scan is the most sensitive imaging modality for detecting skeletal metastases. Which primary tumors most commonly cause OSTEOBLASTIC (hot/increased uptake) metastases on bone scan?

  1. ALung and renal cell carcinoma
  2. BProstate and breast carcinoma
  3. CMultiple myeloma and lymphoma
  4. DMelanoma and thyroid carcinoma
Show the answer and explanation

B. Prostate and breast carcinoma

Prostate cancer and breast cancer are the most common causes of osteoblastic skeletal metastases, appearing as 'hot spots' (areas of increased uptake) on bone scan due to stimulated osteoblastic activity. Multiple myeloma and renal cell carcinoma produce predominantly OSTEOLYTIC metastases, which can be photopenic (cold) on bone scan and may be better detected by CT or PET. Understanding the pattern helps interpret bone scan findings in clinical context.

More bone imaging images

Whole-body bone scintigraphy showing diffusely increased skeletal uptakeSuperscan on Bone Scintigraphy Whole-body bone scan showing intense uptake in expanded bony segmentsPaget’s Disease of Bone on Bone Scan Whole-body bone scintigraphy — photopenic (cold) skeletal lesionPhotopenic Bone Lesions: Multiple Myeloma Three-phase bone scan showing increased flow/blood pool in soft tissues with normal delayed bone uptake — pattern of cellulitisCellulitis vs Osteomyelitis on Three-Phase Bone Scan Normal whole-body Tc-99m MDP bone scan — anterior and posterior projectionsNormal Physiologic Uptake on a Bone Scan Tc-99m MDP bone scan showing uptake in the tibial regionShin Splints on Bone Scan: Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
← How Tc-99m MDP Localizes in BoneSuperscan on Bone Scintigraphy →

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