Hajime Ichikawa - Department of Radiology, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, Toyohashi, Japan
Kenta Miwa - Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan
Koichi Okuda - Department of Physics, Kanazawa Medical University, Kanazawa, Japan
Takayuki Shibutani - Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences,Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan

Objective(s): Nuclear medicine technologists in Japan often perform additional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with or without computed tomography (CT) after whole-body imaging for bone scintigraphy. In this study, we wanted to identify the bone scanning protocols used in Japan, together with the current clinical practices. Methods: The study was conducted between October and December 2017. We created a web survey that was hosted by the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology. The questionnaire included 12 items regarding the demographics of the responders, their scan protocols, and the imaging added to, or omitted from, routine protocols. Results: In total, 228 eligible responses were collected from participants with a mean of 11.6±8.4 years’ experience in nuclear medicine examination. All responders reported using routine scan protocols that included whole-body imaging. However, only 2%, 4%, 20%, and 14% of the responders also acquired single-field SPECT, single-field SPECT/CT, multi-field SPECT, and multi-field SPECT/CT, respectively.  Conclusion: Our survey results indicate that nuclear medicine practice in Japan is beginning to shift from planar whole-body imaging with additional spot planar images to additional SPECT or SPECT/CT. Further study is required to examine the optimal protocols for bone scintigraphy.

Bone scintigraphy Nationwide survey Routine scan protocol Additional imaging Omission of scan protocol