A Superscan is described as a ‘beautiful bone scan’. In a superscan, the uptake of 99mTc-Methelene Diphosphonate (MDP) is prominent in the skeleton relative to soft tissue with absent or faint visualisation of the kidneys. This finding could be misinterpreted as a normal bone scan. A ‘Sub-superscan’ is a term used for scan findings in which the up- take is atypical of a superscan, but the patient has extensive bone metastases, as presented in our case report.
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of SPECT-CT in differentiating metastatic and degenerative disease of the spine. Methods: Twenty-eight patients aged 50 years and above diagnosed with various cancers were referred for whole body (WB) planar bone scintigraphy. Those with a maximum three foci of tracer up- take in the spine were selected for the study. SPECT-CT of these areas of uptake was performed and the lesions were classified as degenerative, indeterminate or metastasis. A repeat study (WB planar bone scintigraphy and SPECT-CT) was performed between 3 to 12 months later. These areas of uptake were reassessed and compared with the first WB planar bone scintigraphy and SPECT-CT. The second SPECT-CT was used as the standard for the diagnosis. Results: Thirty-seven lesions in 28 patients were assessed. The sensitivity of the first WB planar bone scintigraphy, second WB planar bone scintigraphy and first SPECT-CT is 75%, 62.5% and 75% respectively. The specificity of the first WB planar bone scintigraphy, second WB planar bone scintigraphy and first SPECT-CT is 86%, 93%, 90% respectively. There was 2.7% of ‘indeterminate lesion’ in the first WB planar bone scintigraphy, 5.4% in the second WB planar bone scintigraphy, and 5.4% in the first SPECT-CT. The indeterminate lesions were resolved in the second SPECT-CT. Conclusion: SPECT- CT is useful in differentiating degenerative disease from metastatic lesions in the spine.
Imaging modality has become increasingly important in hospital setting especially in cases of unknown site of infection/pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) and osteomyelitis (OM). In recent years, nuclear imaging has been used and is known to deliver prompt and precise diagnoses of numerous infectious diseases. The purpose of the study is to detect and localise the site of infection using Tc99m-besilesomab and to assess the added contributions of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) over planar scan in patients with PUO and OM. Methods: Tc99m-besilesomab with SPECT/CT were prospectively performed in 23 patients (eight males, 15 females) with suspected infection. True findings were diagnosed by both cold and hot spot in the scan with reference to positive blood or tissue cultures, or other additional imaging. Results: Tc99m-besilesomab managed to detect presence of infection with high sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 71.4%. Interobserver variability agreement that was obtained between the presence of infection and the ability of Tc99m-besilesomab imaging to detect it was significant (p