Bone scan and bone biopsy in the detection of skeletal metastases

This study provides the first quantitative indication of the limits of sens itivity of a bone scan with technetium (Tc-99-MDP) in detecting skeletal me tastases and thereby also helps to explain the fact that bone scans may be negative when metastases are present in the bone marrow. Since Tc-99-MDP re mains the least noxious and most widely used isotope for bone scanning, the se results have direct clinical relevance in the evaluation of patients wit h solid tumors and possible metastatic spread.