Calcification and uptake of Tc-99m diphosphonates in neuroblastomas: concise communication.

Sixty-six percent of 54 patients with neuroblastoma demonstrated uptake of bone-seeking radioagents by the primary tumor. This is a higher incidence than previously reported. Uptake was slightly more common in abdominal than thoracic tumors. There was a significant correlation between the size of the tumor and tracer uptake. Calcification was demonstrated in the primary tumor in almost 90% of the 54 patients. This is a much higher incidence of calcification than previously reported. Microscopy shows that the calcification is not always due to tumor necrosis; it also occurs in areas of viable tumor cells. Tracer uptake is believed to be related to calcium metabolism. The rate of metabolic activity rather than the total amount of calcium present within the tumor may be the most important factor in determining the amount of uptake. No significant relationship was found between tracer uptake and tumor stage or homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid metabolic activity.