Nuclear medicine in evaluation of the hand and wrist.

Radionuclide evaluation of the hand and wrist is best performed with three-phase scintigraphy. This recent modification of the conventional bone scan includes a radionuclide angiogram to assess blood flow, as well as images that depict soft-tissue inflammation and areas of abnormal bone turnover. The clinical applications of three-phase scintigraphy include evaluation of patients with suspected vascular disorders, hand masses, infections, pain of uncertain etiology, and viability of composite tissue grafts.