Skeletal metastases

Abstract

During the past ten to 20 years, there have been many advances in the understanding of the way in which skeletal metastases develop and great strides in the methods of detection, particularly with the development of the gamma camera and axial or whole-body skeletal scintigraphy. Skeletal metastases may present with pain, hypercalcemia, large lytic lesions, pathologic fracture, spinal cord or cauda equina compression, or spinal instability. Much has been learned about the management of skeletal metastases, and many of these developments have occurred in Great Britain.