[The diagnostic importance of a quantitative evaluation of gamma scintigraphy in Perthes' disease in children].

The investigation was performed in 28 children with Perthes disease, stages I-III. The comparison of visual and quantitative assessment of gamma-scintigrams has shown that the use of the coefficient of differential accumulation as a criterion of asymmetry of RP accumulation in the hip joints makes it possible to increase 4-fold the effectiveness of diagnosis at stage I of Perthes disease, the most difficult one for x-ray diagnosis. At more advanced stages neither visual nor quantitative assessment of gamma-scintigrams is superior to roentgenography. Therefore the use of gamma-scintigraphy seems appropriate in Perthes disease at stage I.