BENIGN MYOCARDIAL UPTAKE OF HYDROXYMETHYLENE DIPHOSPHONATE

During 'routine' bone scanning with diphosphonates, 10 elderly men wer e noted to show prominent myocardial uptake of Tc-hydroxymethylene dip hosphonate (HDP) consistently, but no heart activity was seen with Tc- methylene disphosphonate (MDP). None had evidence of recent myocardial injury and the uptake persisted over a period of many months. In some , myocardial uptake defects were noted, analogoUS to Tl-201- and Tc-me thoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) scans postinfarction. The condition ap pears to be essentially benign but its aetiology remains obscure. We h ave not been able to identify its cause; presumably atherosclerosis is one factor.