Comparison of MRI, CT and bone scintigraphy in metastases of experimental neoplasm.

We compared MRI, CT and bone scintigraphy in the examination of experimentally produced metastatic bone tumors. Three Japanese white rabbits with VX-2 bone tumor were used. T1 weighted (T1W) and T2 weighted (T2W) images were obtained in each MRI examination. All the tumors distributed from the bone marrow to the extraosseous region. T2W images were the best to detect the extraosseous tumors. CT was the best to detect the destructions of bone. T1W and T2W images equally detected the invaded bone marrow. Bone scintigraphy detected all the lesions but could not distinguish the lesions of bone marrow, bone and extraosseous regions.