Sammanfattning
Bone metastasis in patients with prostate cancer can be screened and followed up using bone scintigraphy, and the role of quantitative bone imaging has recently become important. The bone scan index (BSI) is defined as the amount (%) of bone metastasis to the whole-body bones determined using an artificial neural network (ANN). It is currently recognized as a reproducible and practical means of quantifying bone metastasis and as an imaging biomarker of bone metastasis. This chapter summarizes the principles and application of BSI determined using dedicated software (EXINI bone in Europe and North America; BONENAVI in Japan), and its advantages and disadvantages. The BSI could serve as a reliable marker of disease progression and treatment effects as well as a prognostic indicator. The index can also reflect the effects of new drugs and internal radiation therapy on bone metastasis and help in its management.
Nyckelord
Nuclear imaging, Scintigraphy, Artificial neural network, Quantitation