Relative efficacy of radiographic and radionuclide bone surveys in the detection of the skeletal lesions of histiocytosis X

Abstract

Radionuclide studies have been considered a more sensitive indicator of the presence of the bony lesions of histiocytosis X in children than have radiographic bone surveys. Our results suggest that the opposite is true. Although positive correlation between bone scans and radiographs was found in eight of nine patients, only 35% of the individual lesions visible on radiographs were seen on radionuclide studies. Results of radionuclide studies did not correlate with age or sex of the patient, presence or duration of symptoms, radiographic appearance, or anatomic location of lesions. Our results suggest that the radiographic skeletal survey is more sensitive than radionuclide studies in detecting the skeletal lesions of histiocytosis X.