Bone scintigraphy in tuberculous spondylodiscitis

Eur Spine J. 1999;8(3):205-9. doi: 10.1007/s005860050159.

Abstract

Tuberculous affection of the spine can present in different ways. Plain radiographs may fail to show any abnormality. Bone scintigraphy can be a very useful tool in the diagnosis and management of patients with tuberculous spondylodiscitis. This is a retrospective study of 40 patients in whom bone scan was performed using 99mTc-MDP (technetium methylene diphosphonate) before starting anti-tuberculous therapy or any surgical intervention. Four different types of uptake were noted. The uptake was abnormal in 38 out of 40 patients, giving a sensitivity of 95%. Multicentricity was picked up in 25% of cases. No skull lesion was noticed in any of these patients. Rib lesions were found in six patients (ten ribs affected). The rib lesion was always a typical band pattern. This paper outlines the advantages as well as limitations of bone scan in tuberculous affection of the spine.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging*
  • Discitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Discitis / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / pathology

Substances

  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate