Comparison of the Whole-Body Bone Scintigraphy with Levels of the Markers of Bone Metabolism in Serum of Patients with Malignant Melanoma

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of the biochemical markers of bone metabolism: osteocalcin (OC), beta-carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTx) with the presence of bone metastases detected by whole-body bone scintigraphy in patients with malignant melanoma.

Methods. We determined the markers of bone metabolism in the serum by electrochemiluminescent immunoanalysis in 14 patients with melanoma and in 10 persons without malignant disease (control subjects). All participants were examined by whole-body bone scintigraphy using hybrid scanner of type BrightView XCT.

Results. The bone metastases by whole-body bone scintigraphy were in 5 cases, probably in 3 cases and 6 patients were without bone metastases from 14 patients (4 men, 10 women). The concentration of OC in patients was lower about 25.4% in comparison with control subjects. The concentration of OC in the serum was below physiological value in 6 patients and in 4 cases with bone metastases. The concentration of β-CTx was below physiological value in 3 patients and in 2 cases with bone metastases.

Conclusion. We observed lower concentration of osteocalcin in patients with malignant melanoma compared to control subjects and the lowest ostecalcin concentration was observed in patients with bone metastases. We did not observe changes in the concentration of beta-carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen compared neither to control subjects nor between patients with or without bone metastases.