CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE OF I-123 IMP SCINTIGRAPHY TN DETECTING VERTEBRAL BONE METASTASES OF HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA - A COMPARISON WITH BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY WITH TC-99M-MDP

Although bone scintigraphy with Tc-99m-MDP is a sensitive diagnostic m ethod to detect bone metastasis, it is not specific for malignancy. A radioactive substance which accumulates specifically into metastatic l esions should be of value. I-123-IMP and bone scintigraphy with (TC)-T -99m-MDP were consecutively performed in patients with vertebral bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma and lumbar spondylosis deform ans in a 7-day interval or shorter. The intensity of uptake was compar ed. Eighteen of the 20 metastatic lesions (90%) were classified as inc reased uptake areas in I-123-IMP scintigraphy. MDP-scintigraphy disclo sed 16 metastatic lesions (80%), 9 as ''hot'' lesions (56%) and 7 as ' 'cold'' lesions (44%). I-123-IMP scintigraphy was negative in all 12 l esions of lumbar spondylosis deformans. Compared to MDP-scintigraphy, I-123-IMP scintigraphy was more sensitive in detecting vertebral bone metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma with smaller rates of false-pos itive and false-negative findings.