Principal Investigator: Dr. François Bénard
BC Cancer – Vancouver Centre
600 W 10th avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6
For questions about patient referrals, phone: 604-877-6000 ext: 2818
99mTc-MDP is the most widely used radioactive tracer in imaging studies such as whole body bone scans. 99mTc is used in 20 million diagnostic procedures worldwide annually, for purposes ranging from detecting bone metastases from cancer to detecting coronary artery disease.
An alternative for 99mTc-MDP in bone imaging is using the radioactive tracer 18F-Sodium Fluoride (18F-NaF). Some studies have shown that 18F-NaF PET/CT is a possible alternative to the current bone scan procedures.
The 18F-NaF made at BC Cancer is considered investigational. However, this tracer has been used safely at various institutions around the world for many years. There are no serious side effects associated with 18F-NaF that have been reported in the medical literature to date.
The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 18F-NaF imaging to 99mTc-MDP bone SPECT imaging for bone metastasis detection. As well as evaluate the short-term undesirable side effects.
Up to 286 adult subjects with breast or prostate cancer with a clinical suspicion of bone metastases will be invited to participate in this study.
Eligible participants will undergo two bone scans one using the standard 99mTc-MDP bone SPECT imaging and another using 18F-NaF PET/CT.
All patient referrals that meet the specified eligibility criteria for participating in their study should be faxed to the Functional Imaging Department at the BC Cancer – Vancouver Centre.
Below are the patient referral forms, study introduction letter, and informed consent. Patients should not sign the consent form prior to arrival for their PET/CT scan. The consent forms are available for review purposes only.