The role of radionuclides in primary musculoskeletal tumors beyond the 'bone scan'

Radionuclides represent a means of functional imaging, which is able to ref lect the metabolic state of tissues. Recently developed radiotracers and ol der radiotracers with newer applications, imaged through single photon emis sion computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), ca n provide significant information in the diagnosis, grading, therapy respon se or recurrence of primary musculoskeletal tumors. The unique ability of t hese radiotracers to demonstrate non-invasively the efflux pump rate, which is a common reason of therapy failure, as well as the metabolic and prolif erative rates of the tumors should be a powerful tool in the orthopaedic on cology in the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.