The bone scan in primary care: diagnostic pitfalls.

Skeletal scintigraphy (bone scanning) is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of disease states, such as osteomyelitis, and in the evaluation of occult fractures. Certain conditions can alter the appearance of bone scans, such as age of the patient, prior use of antibiotics, concomitant diseases, and disruption of the vascular supply. Three patients whose clinical problems highlight diagnostic problems with bone scans are discussed.