[Value of computed medical imaging in the surveillance of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy of osteogenic osteosarcoma in children and adolescents. 51 patients seen from 1984 to 1986].

The value of quantitative bone scintigraphy, digitised angiography, CT scanning and magnetic resonance imaging in the follow-up of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for osteogenic osteosarcoma was assessed in 51 patients between 1984 and 1986. Bone scintigraphy was a very sensitive method of detecting bone metastases but of limited value in assessing the response to preoperative chemotherapy. CT scanning was very useful in small and medium sized tumours with predominantly non-calcific involvement of the soft tissue. At present, digitised angiography seems to be the best investigation for following up these patients as shown by the close histo-angiographical correlations. However, magnetic resonance imaging is a very promising method and may in future replace the more invasive aforementioned techniques in this indication.