Strontium-85 profile counting of spine in multiple myeloma

Strontium-85 profile counting of spine was carried out in 25 patients with multiple myeloma. There was an increased uptake in 11 cases. All ten cases with back pain had an increased uptake of strontium at the site of pain. On the other hand, only one patient with painless spine had a minimal accretion of strontium. In other cases with painless osteoporosis no accretions were present. The increased uptake of strontium and bone pain was considered to be caused by an infraction with osteoblastic reaction.