RELATIVE DISTRIBUTION OF DIPHOSPHONATE BETWEEN BONE AND SOFT-TISSUE AT 4 AND 24 HOURS - CONCISE COMMUNICATION

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (3) , 208-211
Abstract
Digital bone scintigrams were obtained in 19 patients using 99mTc-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP). [Bone scintigraphy, using the 99mTc-labeled diphosphonates, has an established role in the investigation of skeletal disease.] These were quantitated for skeletal, soft-tissue and renal uptake of tracer using a contrast-enhancement technique to define the regions of interest. Twenty-four hour whole-body retention (WBR) of HEDP was also measured. Approximately 70% of retained HEDP was localized in the skeleton at 24 h, with 26% in soft tissue and 4% in kidneys. Over a wide spectrum of WBR measurements (18-70%), the 24-h soft-tissue component, as a percentage of administered dose, remained relatively constant whereas skeletal tracer accumulation mirrored WBR (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). Despite a significant but essentially stable soft-tissue component, measurement of 24-h WBR of HEDP accurately reflects skeletal metabolism.