Faculty Collaboration Database

Bone scintigraphy in the reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. Radiology 1981 Feb;138(2):437-43

Date

02/01/1981

Pubmed ID

7455127

DOI

10.1148/radiology.138.2.7455127

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0019378374 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   174 Citations

Abstract

Sixty-four consecutive patients were studied for possible reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS). They were divided into five groups, based upon specific clinical criteria, and the radiographic and scintigraphic findings in each group were examined. Osteoporosis was the most common radiographic abnormality, present in 69% of subjects with definite, probable, or possible RSDS, as compared with 21% opf those with RSDS. Scintigraphic abnormalities were noted in 60% of RSDS patients but in only 7% of the others. These findings included increased blood flow and enhanced periarticular radionuclide activity in the affected extremity. Of 11 patients with serial scintigraphy, six (55%) demonstrated a return to normal, symmetrical patterns following successful therapy. The scan may reflect an active, potentially reversible disorder of local blood flow in RSDS. Furthermore, the scintigraphic patterns may be useful in the diagnosis and in predicting which pattients are likely to respond to systemic steroid therapy.

Author List

Kozin F, Soin JS, Ryan LM, Carrera GF, Wortmann RL

Authors

Guillermo Carrera MD Emeritus Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Lawrence M. Ryan MD Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Bone and Bones
Humans
Middle Aged
Osteoporosis
Radiography
Radionuclide Imaging
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy