99mTc-pyrophosphate bone scans in patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors.

Three patients with foregut (bronchial), hindgut (rectal) or (ovarian) carcinoid tumors had symptomatic bone metastasis with abnormal 99m Tc pyrophosphate bone scans and bone roentgenograms. Six patients with midgut (small intestine or caecal) carcinoid) carcinoid tumors who had no symptoms of bone metastasis had no evidence of bone metastasis on bone scan or bone roentgenographic examination. This study supports the clinical impression that patients with midget carcinoid tumors have a low incidence of bone metastasis.