Piffer S, Amichetti M, Valentini A
Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Istituti Ospedalieri S. Chiara, Trento, Italy.
Acta Oncol. 1988;27(1):21-4. doi: 10.3109/02841868809090313.
The significance of skeletal scintigraphy in staging of early breast cancer is still controversial. The results of bone scanning with 99Tcm diphosphonate and clinical examination in 204 patients with stage I-II breast cancer are reported. Bone scans were positive in 28 cases. However, only one was true positive as confirmed by x-ray examination and/or biopsy, with a detection rate of 0.5%. Physical examination had a detection rate similar to bone scan, but with superior specificity. In our experience bone scan cannot be recommended as a routine staging test in early breast cancer.
