[A comparison of planar scintigraphy and MRI in the screening of skeletal metastases].

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and planar scintigraphy findings of patients with known or suspected skeletal metastases.

Materials And Methods: Twenty eight patients (13 women, 15 men) ranging from 35 to 63 years old, underwent whole body MRI with coronal plane turboSTIR sequence and Tc 99m methylene diphosphonate planar scintigraphy for detecting skeletal metastases.

Results: MRI showed metastases in 20 cases, whereas scintigraphy was positive in 23 cases. In 2 patients where scintigraphy showed 4 lesions, MRI showed them to be degenerative changes. In 3 patients scintigraphy showed 4 metastases that were not seen on MRI. In 7 patients extraskeletal metastases were identified by MRI alone. Statistical analysis showed exact correlation between both techniques (Mc Nemar p = 0.25).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that whole-body MRI is as effective as scintigraphy in skeletal metastases. In the future, developments in MRI technology, increases in the number of MRI units and new studies may make MRI an alternative screening technique to scintigraphy.