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The Effect of Iatrogenic Trauma on the Bone Scintigram: An Animal Study: Concise Communication

Va Medical Center, and University of California, San Diego, California
VA Medical Center, and University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City, Utah

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Naomi Alazraki, MD, Chief, Nuclear Medicine, V.A. Medical Center, 500 Foothill Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84148.

ABSTRACT

An animal study was performed to assess the effect on the Tc-99m phosphate bone scintigram of injury by needle aspiration or drill hole to metaphyseal and diaphyseal areas in immature and mature bones. Results showed that in 12 immature rabbits such trauma to metaphyseal regions had no effect on the bone image. Similar metaphyseal trauma in two mature dogs showed definite abnormalities on the bone image, but in one mature rabbit, no abnormality could be identified by scintigram. Diaphyseal trauma always gave a definitely abnormal bone image. Extrapolation of these results to humans be cautious, but it suggests that needling or drilling in metaphyseal regions in neonates or young children probably does not affect later bone images.