Diagnostic imaging standards for bone metastases

The purpose of the study was an attempt to create universal criteria for the diagnostic imaging of bone metastases allowing biopsy to be avoided. Material and methods. Scans from 90 patients with verified primary malignant tumors and focal bone lesions in the (n=278) were analyzed. The minimal size of the focal bone lesion was 1 cm. All patients underwent multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging with a modified scanning protocol and single-photon emission computed tomography combined with computed tomography. Diagnostic evaluation was performed before starting treatment, 1 month after starting therapy, then every 3 months for 1 year. Results. The original «principle of 8 diagnostic elements» had been created, allowing the assessment of the main pathological conditions and processes occurring in bone structures. Based on the analysis and statistic processing of 236 foci of metastatic lesion, the diagnostic informative value of each of the imaging modalities and the algorithm as a whole were assessed, and the reference values were determined. This approach allowed the accuracy of early diagnosis to be improved due to a more reliable evaluation of bone metastases at an early stage, thus reducing or completely avoiding additional biopsies.