BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY AND DENSITOMETRY IN CHILDREN WITH OSTEOPETROSIS

Bone scintigraphy and dual x-ray absorptiometry were performed in 18 c hildren (8 males, 10 females) with clinical and radiologic diagnoses o f osteopetrosis in order to demonstrate the scintigraphic features of this rare disorder and to measure the bone mineral density. Their mean age was 9 years (range, 3-16 years). Bone scintigraphy demonstrated c haracteristic features of a widened metaphysis of all long bones that showed increased tracer uptake, particularly in the distal femur and p roximal tibia. Dual x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine, three fe moral sites, and total body showed a marked increase in bone mineral d ensity. The mean values for bone density of the lumbar spine and great er trochanter were markedly elevated than were other sites. Compared w ith a normal group matched for age and gender, the increase in bone mi neral density was 181% for the lumbar spine and 193% for the greater t rochanter, The authors concluded that bone imaging and bone densitomet ry are useful in establishing the diagnosis of osteopetrosis by demons trating increase tracer uptake in the widened metaphysis and increased bone density. Bone densitometry may be of prognostic value in followu p, especially in monitoring the response to therapy.