[Bone scintigraphy in the preoperative determination of the stage of breast cancer].

As for the frequency of metastases to the bones breast cancer ranks third among all tumors, as for the general frequency of metastases it ranks first (25-45%). Early diagnosis of breast cancer metastases to the bones using scintigraphy of the skeleton in the preoperative period gives an opportunity to reveal tumor dissemination and to provide adequate treatment without imposing on patients inappropriate therapeutic measures. The study was performed using 99mTc-pyrophosphate. In revealing the foci of high activity accumulation by more than 20% as compared to symmetrical or adjacent zones, the changes were looked upon as metastatic ones. Out of 85 patients foci of high activity accumulation in the skeleton were noted in 7 (8.3%). In 5 patients, metastases were confirmed directly on roentgenography, and in 2 patients, they manifested themselves 2 and 5 months later. Stage I-IIa disease was observed in 48 (56.5%) out of the 85 patients. Out of the 40 patients with Stage I disease, skeletal metastases confirmed by x-ray were found in 2. All 7 patients were given together with mastectomy adjuvant treatment. Thus scintigraphy of the skeleton together with chest x-ray, liver scintigraphy, physical examination and palpation should become obligatory in the preoperative examination of patients to specify breast cancer stage.