Clin Osteol 2026; 31(3): 135-142 | DOI: 10.36290/clo.2026.020

The role of nuclear medicine in metabolic bone diseasesMain theme

Adriana Šimánková1, Milan Šimánek2, Daniela Šimánková2, 3
1 Ústav nukleární medicíny, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze a 1. LF UK, Praha
2 Oddělení nukleární medicíny, Nemocnice Pelhřimov, p. o., Pelhřimov
3 Oddělení nukleární medicíny, Karlovarská krajská nemocnice a. s., Karlovy Vary

Metabolic bone diseases comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormalities of bone turnover, mineralization or bone quality. Clinical, laboratory and densitometric methods remain the cornerstone of diagnosis. However, nuclear medicine imaging can provide valuable information regarding complications, extent of skeletal involvement and differential diagnosis of metabolic and neoplastic skeletal processes. Bone scintigraphy using osteotropic radiopharmaceuticals, currently most often combined with hybrid SPECT/CT imaging, represents the principal nuclear medicine modality. A characteristic finding in several metabolic bone diseases is the metabolic superscan pattern, which must be differentiated from diffuse metastatic skeletal involvement. This review summarizes the current role of nuclear medicine in osteoporosis, osteomalacia, renal osteodystrophy, hyperparathyroidism, Paget's disease, fibrous dysplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta.

Keywords: bone scintigraphy, hyperparathyroidism, metabolic bone disease, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, SPECT/CT, superscan.

Accepted: September 15, 2026; Published: October 8, 2026  Show citation

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Šimánková A, Šimánek M, Šimánková D. The role of nuclear medicine in metabolic bone diseases. Clinical Osteology. 2026;31(3):135-142. doi: 10.36290/clo.2026.020.
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