Bone Marrow Imaging

Bone marrow imaging has an important role in evaluating specific aspects of bone marrow anatomy, physiology, and pathology. This chapter provides a brief review of bone marrow structure and function essential to the understanding of basic principles of bone marrow radionuclide imaging and its clinical uses. Imaging bone marrow using indium-111 chloride, technetium-99 m (Tc-99 m)-labeled microcolloids, or Tc-99 m-labeled monoclonal antigranulocytic and antimyelocytic antibodies is presented. Results of studies evaluating bone marrow scanning in several disease processes are summarized. Special attention is paid to the importance of bone marrow scintigraphy in inflammatory bone disease.