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Radiologic Evaluation Of Skeletal Metastases: Role Of Plain Radiographs And Computed Tomography

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Bone Metastases

Part of the book series: Cancer Metastasis – Biology and Treatment ((CMBT,volume 12))

Abstract

The diagnosis and confirmation of bone metastasis, especially in asymptomatic patients, can be a difficult and challenging task. Bone scintigraphy is a very sensitive method and continues to be the primary choice for detection of bony metastases. Radiography is not generally recommended as a screening method and it is commonly used such scintigraphy.

Computed Tomography (CT) can be used to further delineate the nature of a scintigraphically positive osseous region and to evaluate the extent and pattern of bone destruction of the metastasis as well as the presence of a soft tissue mass. This is very important in planning radiation ports or biopsy sites. The application of Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) gives a rapid and excellent survey of the axial skeleton and contributes to the evaluation of the stability of skeletal metastases with the use of multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions.

CT can also quantify the therapeutic effect on bone metastases by measuring the differences in attenuation values between pre and post treatments cans. Moreover Computed Aided diagnosis (CAD) schemes for the quantification/characterization of metastatic bone disease on CT data and for monitoring tumor response to therapy are currently emerging.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece

    Christina Kalogeropoulou

  2. Department of Medical Physics, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece

    Anna Karachaliou

  3. University Hospital of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece

    Peter Zampakis

Authors
  1. Christina Kalogeropoulou
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  2. Anna Karachaliou
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  3. Peter Zampakis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christina Kalogeropoulou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Radiation Oncology, University of Patras Medical School, 265 04, Patras, Greece

    Dimitrios Kardamakis MD, PhD, DMRT  & Vassilios Vassiliou MD, PhD  & 

  2. Dept. of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada

    Edward Chow MBBS, PhD, FRCPC

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Kalogeropoulou, C., Karachaliou, A., Zampakis, P. (2009). Radiologic Evaluation Of Skeletal Metastases: Role Of Plain Radiographs And Computed Tomography. In: Kardamakis, D., Vassiliou, V., Chow, E. (eds) Bone Metastases. Cancer Metastasis – Biology and Treatment, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9819-2_6

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