Scintigraphic assessment of bone islands.

Gamma camera images were obtained in 12 patients whose radiographs showed large, typical bone islands. Four patients had focal increased activity corresponding to the radiographic site of the lesion. Biopsy in these 4 patients, done by en bloc resection in 2, confirmed or was consistent with the diagnosis of a bone island. This brings to 5 the number of histologically documented bone islands with positive radionuclide images known to the authors. However, these cases were carefully selected, and positive images of bone islands are rare using current techniques. Scintigraphic visualization is presumably dependent on a combination of factors, including size, growth rate, location, and the sensitivity of the radiopharmaceutical and imaging device.