THE ROLE OF RADIONUCLIDE SCANS IN SARCOMA

Radionuclide imaging differs fundamentally from standard radiologic imaging modalities, because the nuclear techniques depict biochemical events in tissue at exceedingly low molar concentrations without altering in vivo physiology. To the degree that the radioisotopically labeled pharmaceuticals have specific abilities to mark unique biochemical functions, it is possible to image biochemistry in vivo. Depiction of such biochemical changes during or after therapy is of special interest for cancer patients, because antineoplastic therapy distorts normal anatomic borders and landmarks used to determine tumor extension and spread.