CLINICAL COMPARISON OF BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY WITH TC-99-M-DPD, TC-99-M-HDP AND TC-99-M-MDP

The bone-imaging agents MDP, DPD and HDP [dicarboxypropane diphosphonate, hydroxymethylene diphosphonate and methylene diphosphate, respectively] were compared radiochemically (only minor differences were found) in 12 patients with prostatic and 12 patients with breast carcinoma. Each patient received both MDP and either DPD or HDP. The scintigraphic examinations were compared visually and quantitatively. The uptake ratio normal bone/soft tissue was higher for DPD and HDP than for MDP. The ratio pathologic bone/normal bone was highest for MDP, particularly for prostatic carcinoma. The differences in this ratio for breast carcinoma were in general non-significant. The observed differences were minor and of little practical importance.