Radionuclide imaging of the bones and joints of the hand. A definition of normal and a comparison of sensitivity using 99mTc-pertechnetate and 99mTc-diphosphonate.

Normal radionuclide patterns of the hand obtained with 99mTcO4 and 99mTc-Sn-EHDP are described and their validity supported by clinical, radiographic, and laboratory examinations performed to exclude articular disease in the control group. Comparison of the 99mTcO4 and 99mTc-Sn-EHDP images in patients with various articular diseases demonstrated higher sensitivity of 99mTc-Sn-EHDP in detection of involved joints; this was also true when the radionuclide images were compared with fine-detail radiographs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.