[3-phase scintigraphy in the Sudeck syndrome. Comparison with the results of roentgenologic and clinical studies].

37 patients with clinically and radiologically proved reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome were scintigraphed by 99mTc-MDP (three-phase-scintigraphy). In 87% of the examinations (all three-phases) an increased tracer accumulation in the region of the affected limb could be seen scintigraphically. The majority of the positive results (92% resp. 87%) were found in the interval phase (phase II) and the late phase (phase III) of the scintigraphic examinations.--We recommend a staging of the increase of the tracer accumulation when examining the reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. This staging doesn't significantly correlate with the familiar clinical and radiological stagings. However it may be useful when assessing the course of the syndrome.--Increased tracer accumulations could be observed in the case of clinically, radiologically and scintigraphically manifest reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome in the region of the foot, frequently in the ipsilateral knee region, rarely in the ipsilateral hip joint region, although clinically the syndrome could not be observed in these regions.