Osteocalcin is a noncollagenous bone protein produced by osteoblasts. Increase in serum osteocalcin level reflects osteoblast activity with acceleration of bone formation. To evaluate the correlation of Tc-HDP bone scintigraphic findings and concurrent serum osteocalcin, serum osteocalcin values of 40 consecutive patients were measured by radioimmunoassay at the time of initial referral for bone studies. These patients, all males aged 23-93, were studied for various disease entities, including prostate carcinoma. The results of the assay were categorized into three groups (gp) as follows: 17 at normal (1.8 to 6.6 ng/ml) level (gp 1), 21 low (gp 2), and two high (gp 3). Only one bronchogenic carcinoma patient with a high level had a right iliac lesion suggesting metastasis. The bone scans of nine patients with normal or low levels showed positive metastases. Two patients with stress fractures as shown on bone scans had normal levels. The images of patients with disparity between serum osteocalcin and positive bone lesions may be interpreted as follows: Instead of osteoblastic activity resulting in the synthesis and/or release of osteocalcin, area(s) of increased uptake in the bone scan may be predominantly reflecting increased regional blood flow and decreased sympathetic tone, resulting in an increase in bone-agent deposition.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Extracardiac intrathoracic abnormalities demonstrated by Tc-99m RBC gated blood pool imaging.

In addition to intrathoracic great vessel abnormality, pericardial effusion, and splenomegaly, extracardiac intrathoracic abnormalities were found in 12 of 210 patients' 99mTc red blood cell (RBC) gated cardiac blood pool imagings. These abnormalities, including five cases of absent pulmonary perfusion due to tumor mass, four of pleural effusion, two of pneumothorax, and one of left lung mass attenuation, were confirmed with concurrent or subsequent chest radiography, chest CTs, or biopsy. Pulmonary blood pool activity is normally seen on both sides in both anterior and left anterior oblique views; decreased or absent perfusion on either side or in part of the lung may indicate chest/pulmonary pathologies. Although pulmonary and thoracic wall lesions are not frequently seen, such incidental findings during gated cardiac blood pool imagings can lead to further study for these clinically unsuspected lesions and may benefit the patient.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Studying bone mineral density (BMD) in pediatric subjects with idiopathic scoliosis.

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Absorptiometry, Photon↗