Nuclear Medicine Imaging Techniques for Detection of Skeletal Metastases in Breast Cancer

Bone is the most common site of metastases from advanced breast cancer. Whole-body bone scintigraphy has been most frequently used in the process of managing patients with cancer; its advantage is that it provides rapid whole-body imaging for screening of osteoblastic or sclerotic/mixed bone metastases at reasonable cost. Recent advanced techniques, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT, quantitative analysis, and bone scan index, contribute to better understanding of the disease state. More recent advances in machines and PET drugs improve the staging of the skeleton with higher sensitivity and specificity.