Clinical Bone Marrow Scanning with Radioisotopes

Thirty-two series of bone marrow scans were performed on 29 patients. The scans were made with three colloid preparations, the most satisfactory of which has been colloidal Au¹⁹⁸. Distinct pictures exhibiting the distribution of hematopoietic marrow have been obtained with the ORNL Research Scanner. Local lesions within the marrow organ has been demonstrated and confirmed by histologic studies. Variations in the size and distribution of the marrow organ have been shown in a graphic fashion which have hitherto been impossible. The doses of Au¹⁹⁸ required, although rather large, do not produce any detectable early radiation effects. The possibility of harmful effects years after administration limits the present method to selected patients. Bone marrow scanning using the procedure reported here can be of considerable assistance to the investigator, and with improvements anticipated in the technic, it may find its place as a practical clinical procedure.