[Quantitative whole-body bone scintigraphy. III. Clinical significance for the diagnosis of bone metastases, systemic bone diseases and diseases of the joint (author's transl)].

Quantitative whole-body bone scans were performed on 277 patients with bone metastases, diseases of the joint and systemic bone diseases in order to evaluate the clinical significance of quantitative and kinetic data in bone imaging. Metastases and other focal bone diseases are recognizable and quantifiable by the method; however, sensitivity and specificity of bone imaging are not enhanced. In metabolic bone diseases, with the exception of osteoporosis, kinetic data facilitate the analysis of bone scans. Typical signs of osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy--increased retention of the activity in the skeleton and increased bone/soft tissue ratios as well as a generally changed distribution of radioactivity--are only recognizable by quantitative imaging.