FREQUENCY AND NUMBER OF BONE LESIONS ON BONE SCAN IN CASE OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Abstract

Objective:
To determine the frequency and number of bone lesions on bone scan in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methodology:

This Cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2024 to May 2025 at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Multan Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Multan.

A total of 114 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma aged 18-60 years were included. Bone scintigraphy was performed after intravenous administration of technetium-99m methyl diphosphonate. Presence, number and anatomical distribution of metastatic bone lesions were recorded. Data were analysed by using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.

Results:
The mean age of patients was 48.49 ± 11.62 years. Bone metastasis were detected in 11 patients giving frequency of 11 (9.60%). Vertebral involvement was present in 11 (100.0%) patients, pelvic involvement in 10 (90.9%) and rib involvement in 4 (36.4%) patients. Mean number of lesions was 0.27 ± 0.96. Significant association was observed between bone metastasis and duration of disease (p=0.049), stage of hepatocellular carcinoma (p=0.002) and previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy (p=0.009).

Conclusion:
Bone metastasis is not uncommon in hepatocellular carcinoma and bone scintigraphy is useful for early detection of skeletal involvement, especially in advanced disease.