Molecular imaging of bone metastases using bone targeted tracers
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Department of Nuclear Medicine Radiopharmacology, Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal - sofia.vaz@fundacaochampalimaud.pt.
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC), Khaitan, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Abstract
Molecular imaging using bone targeted tracers has been used in clinical practice for almost fifty years and still plays an essential role in the diagnosis and follow-up of bone metastases. It includes both [99mTc]bisphosphonates for bone scan and [18F]NaF for positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) which are very sensitive to detect osteoblastic activity, but it is important to consider several aspects to increase the specificity of reported findings (such as specific tracer characteristics and mechanism of action, patient's clinical history, common metastatic patterns, changes after treatment, limitations of the technique, variations and pitfalls). This will enable useful information for clinical management being provided in the report. Furthermore, iatrogenic skeletal adverse events are common and they should also be identified, as they have impact on patient's quality of life. This review makes a brief summary of the mechanism of action of bone targeted tracers, followed by a discussion of classic patterns of bone metastasis, treatment response assessment and iatrogenic skeletal complications. The value of hybrid imaging techniques with bone targeted tracers, including single photon emission computed tomography and PET/CT is also explored. The final part summarizes new bone targeted tracers with superior imaging characteristics that are being developed, and which may further enhance the applications of radionuclide bone imaging.
Similar articles
Pianou NK, Stavrou PZ, Vlontzou E, Rondogianni P, Exarhos DN, Datseris IE.Hell J Nucl Med. 2019 Jan-Apr;22(1):6-9. doi: 10.1967/s002449910952. Epub 2019 Mar 7.PMID: 30843003
Molecular imaging of bone metastases using tumor-targeted tracers.
Karamzade-Ziarati N, Manafi-Farid R, Ataeinia B, Langsteger W, Pirich C, Mottaghy FM, Beheshti M.Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2019 Jun;63(2):136-149. doi: 10.23736/S1824-4785.19.03206-0. Epub 2019 Jul 16.PMID: 31315347 Review.
Bombardieri E, Setti L, Kirienko M, Antunovic L, Guglielmo P, Ciocia G.Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2015 Dec;59(4):381-99. Epub 2015 Sep 3.PMID: 26337240 Review.
Molecular Imaging of Bone Metastases and Their Response to Therapy.
Cook GJR, Goh V.J Nucl Med. 2020 Jun;61(6):799-806. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.119.234260. Epub 2020 Apr 3.PMID: 32245899 Review.
Löfgren J, Mortensen J, Rasmussen SH, Madsen C, Loft A, Hansen AE, Oturai P, Jensen KE, Mørk ML, Reichkendler M, Højgaard L, Fischer BM.J Nucl Med. 2017 Nov;58(11):1778-1785. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.116.189183. Epub 2017 Aug 10.PMID: 28798033
Cited by
Therapy-induced bone changes in oncology imaging with 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) PET-CT.
Ahmed N, Sadeq A, Marafi F, Gnanasegaran G, Usmani S.Ann Nucl Med. 2022 Apr;36(4):329-339. doi: 10.1007/s12149-022-01730-y. Epub 2022 Feb 26.PMID: 35218508 Review.
Usmani S, Ahmed N, Gnanasegaran G, Marafi F, van den Wyngaert T.Skeletal Radiol. 2022 May;51(5):905-922. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03905-6. Epub 2021 Sep 15.PMID: 34524489 Review.
Xiong C, Xu X, Zhang H, Zeng B.Am J Transl Res. 2021 Jun 15;13(6):7335-7341. eCollection 2021.PMID: 34306502 Free PMC article.
Bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: current knowledge and open issues.
Nervo A, Ragni A, Retta F, Gallo M, Piovesan A, Liberini V, Gatti M, Ricardi U, Deandreis D, Arvat E.J Endocrinol Invest. 2021 Mar;44(3):403-419. doi: 10.1007/s40618-020-01374-7. Epub 2020 Aug 3.PMID: 32743746 Free PMC article. Review.