Imaging of bone metastasis: An update

Early detection of skeletal metastasis is critical for accurate staging and optimal treatment. This paper briefly reviews our current understanding of the biological mechanisms through which tumours metastasise to bone and describes the available imaging methods to diagnose bone metastasis and monitor response to treatment. Among the various imaging modalities currently available for imaging skeletal metastasis, hybrid techniques whichfuse morphological and functional data are the most sensitive and specific, and positron emission tomography(PET)/computed tomography and PET/magnetic resonance imaging will almost certainly continue to evolve and become increasingly important in this regard.

Samarium-153-EDTMP bone uptake rate and its relation to therapeutic effect

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the measurement of Samarium-153 ethylenediaminetetramethylene phosphonic acid ((153)Sm-EDTMP) bone uptake rate using whole-body scintigraphy and analyze the relationship between bone uptake rate and therapeutic effect. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with painful bony metastases from prostate (n = 15), lung (n = 20), breast (n= 18), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) (n=5), colon (n=2), kidney (n=2) and unknown cause (n=4) carcinoma were examined with whole-body scintigraphy 10 min and 5 h post administration of (153)Sm-EDTMP. Bone uptake rate was then calculated. (1 ) Complete response (CR): disappearance of > 2 metastases, Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) increase > 20, moderate or complete remission of bone pain 7 d post injection of (153)Sm-EDTMP. (2) Partial response (PR): disappearance of 1-2 metastases, KPS increase 10-20, moderate remission of bone pain in 3 wk. (3) Non-response (NR): no disappearance or shrinkage of metastases, KPS increase

Preparation and degradation characteristic study of bone repair composite of DL-polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite/decalcifying bone matrix

To explore the preparative method an d study the degradation characteristics of bone repair composite of DL polylac tic acid (PDLLA)/hydroxyapatite(HA)/decalcifying bone matrix (DBM) in vitro. Methods: An emulsion blend method was developed to prepare the composite of PDLLA/HA/DBM in weight ratio of PDLLA:HA:DBM= 1.5 2 : 1 1.5 : 1. The dynamic changes of weight, biomechanical property and pH value of PDLLA/ HA/DBM and PDLLA in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4 ) were studied re spectively through degradation tests in vitro. Results: Without being heated, PDLLA, HA and DBM could be synt hesized with the emulsion blend method as bone composite of PDLLA/HA/DBM, which had both osteoconductive and osteoinductive effects. The diameter of the apertu re was 100 400 μm and the gap rate was 71.3 %. During degradation, the pH v alue of PDLLA solution decreased lightly within 2 weeks, but decreased obviously at the end of 4 weeks and the value was 4.0 . While the pH value of PDLLA/H A/DBM kept quite steady and was 6.4 at the end of 12 weeks. The weight of PDLLA changed little within 4 weeks, then changed obviously and was 50% of its initia l weight at the end of 12 weeks. While the weight of PDLLA/HA/DBM changed little within 5 weeks, then changed obviously and was 60% of the initial weight at the end of 12 weeks. The initial biomechanical strength of PDLLA was 1.33 MPa, decreased little within 3 weeks, then changed obviously and kept at 0.11 MP a at the end of 12 weeks. The initial biomechanical strength of PDLLA/HA/DBM was 1.7 MPa, decreased little within 4 weeks, then changed obviously and kept at 0.21 MPa at the end of 12 weeks. Conclusions: The emulsion blend method is a new method to prepa re bone repair materials. As a new bone repair material, PDLLA/HA/DBM is more su itable for regeneration and cell implantation, and the environment during its de gradation is advantageous to the growth of bone cells.

Clinical manifestations of low bone mass in amenorrhea patients with elevated follicular stimulating hormone

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of low bone mass in amenorrhea patients with elevated follicular stimulating hormone (FSH). METHODS: Amenorrhea patients with elevated FSH: Primary amenorrhea 18 cases, secondary amenorrhea 171 cases and age matched controls with normal menstruation, 180 cases. The descriptive parameters were: estrogen, alkaline phosphatase, urinary excretion of calcium to creatine ratio, cortical bone mineral density at the right radius measured by single photon absorptiometry and trabecular bone mineral density at the lumbar vertebra body measured by quantitative computerized tomography. RESULTS: Average E(2) levels in amenorrhea patients is under 150 pmol/L with significantly higher alkaline phosphatase and urine calcium to creatine ratio values than the normal menstruation group. Cortical bone mineral density in the secondary amenorrhea group (655 +/- 69 mg/cm(2)) was significantly lower than that of the normal menstruation group (677 +/- 56 mg/cm(2), P