Current state of bone scintigraphy protocols and practice in Japan

Document Type : Short communication

Authors

1 Department of Radiology, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, Toyohashi, Japan

2 Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan

3 Department of Physics, Kanazawa Medical University, Kanazawa, Japan

4 Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences,Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan

5 Department of Radiology, Kurashiki Central Hospital

6 Department of Radiological Sciences, Ibaraki prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan

7 Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Japan

Abstract

Objective(s): Nuclear medicine technologists in Japan often perform additional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with or without computed tomography (CT) after whole-body imaging for bone scintigraphy. In this study, we wanted to identify the bone scanning protocols used in Japan, together with the current clinical practices.
Methods: The study was conducted between October and December 2017. We created a web survey that was hosted by the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology. The questionnaire included 12 items regarding the demographics of the responders, their scan protocols, and the imaging added to, or omitted from, routine protocols.
Results: In total, 228 eligible responses were collected from participants with a mean of 11.6±8.4 years’ experience in nuclear medicine examination. All responders reported using routine scan protocols that included whole-body imaging. However, only 2%, 4%, 20%, and 14% of the responders also acquired single-field SPECT, single-field SPECT/CT, multi-field SPECT, and multi-field SPECT/CT, respectively. 
Conclusion: Our survey results indicate that nuclear medicine practice in Japan is beginning to shift from planar whole-body imaging with additional spot planar images to additional SPECT or SPECT/CT. Further study is required to examine the optimal protocols for bone scintigraphy.

Keywords

References

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Asia Oceania Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Biology
Volume 8, Issue 2
July 2020
Pages 116-122

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