Fast Five Quiz: Imaging Studies in Metastatic Bone Disease

CT is highly sensitive for evaluating focal bone abnormalities that cannot be characterized on x-ray and for evaluating patients with persistent pain but in whom there are no visible radiographic abnormalities.

In addition, CT scan is helpful in guiding needle biopsy of bones with complicated structures such as the vertebrae or ilia.

X-ray imaging is the initial study to screen patients for metastasis involving the bony structures. CT scan is not an ideal screening tool for metastasis involving the bony structures because of the high doses of radiation associated with the test.

Venous Doppler ultrasound is the appropriate imaging modality to screen patients for DVT.

While x-ray imaging is used to rule out pathologic fractures, the skull is not typically a site for pathologic fracture.

For more on the role of CT studies in MBD, read here.

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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Maurie Markman. Fast Five Quiz: Imaging Studies in Metastatic Bone Disease - Medscape - Mar 27, 2019.