Investigation of the biodistribution of subtherapeutic amounts of a new, chromatographically purified rhenium-186(tin) hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate radiopharmaceutical have been completed in five patients with metastatic carcinoma to bone. The new agent localizes in metastatic foci in bone in the same manner as do standard technetium-99m diphosphonate bone-scanning agents and appears able to deliver therapeutic radiation doses of thousands of rads (tens of grays) to these metastatic foci while limiting the total red marrow dose to less than 75 rad (0.75 Gy). The simultaneous treatment of multiple metastatic foci in bone appears feasible with this new agent.