Differentiation of Bone Metastases and Fractures using 24 hour/3 hour Radio-uptake Ratio in Bone Scintigraphy

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of 24 hour/3 hour radio-uptake ratio, lesion to non-lesion ratio, in differentiating bony metastases from acute ( months) fractures. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients (age range: 26-81, 32 males, 31 females) having 90 lesions (30 bone metastases, 30 acute fractures, 30 healing fractures) were included. Bone scans were obtained 3 and 24 hours after administration of 740 MBq of -MDP. The ratio of radio-uptake in the lesion to normal area was measured as 24/3 hour radio-uptake ratio ([lesion/non-lesion RUR at 24 hour]/[lesion/non-lesion RUR at 3 hour], 24/3 RUR) and analyzed clinical significance in differentiating bone metastases from acute or healing fractures. Results: Mean 24/3 RUR were for bone metastases, for acute fractures, and for healing fractures. 24/3 RUR values of bone metastases and acute fractures were not significantly different. But 24/3 RUR values of bone metastases and healing fractures, and those of acute and healing fractures were found to be significantly different (p