To evaluate the ability of SUVmax to differentiate bone metastases from degenerative lesions, blastic from lytic metastases, as well as to determine the correlation between SUVmax with 
A review was performed on 115 
The mean of the SUVmax values was significantly higher in metastases than in degenerative lesions, 26.8±17.3 vs. 15.3±6.3 (P<0.001) and in blastic than in lytic metastases, 27.9±18.3 vs. 22.1±11.3 (P=0.03). A SUVmax value above 42 always represented metastases, with all values above 49 representing blastic metastases. Using the SUVmax values, it was possible to predict the occurrence of metastases (AUC=0.723; P<0.001; 95% CI=0.671-0.776). The mean of the SUVmax with 
SUVmax can contribute to the differentiation of metastases from degenerative lesions, and blastic from lytic metastases.