PURPOSE : The purpose of this study is to know the ability of detecting malignant tumor tissue by Tl-201 scan, and to compare with that of Tc-99m-MIBI and Tc-99m-MDP scan. MATERIAL AND METHODS : Between February 1994 and December 1995,38 unselected patients with various bone pathologies were studied prospectively. Eighteen had malignant bone and soft tissue pathologies, while twenty had benign. All patients were studied with Tl-201, Tc-99mMIBI and Tc-99m-MDP scan prior to surgical biopsy. PICKER Prism 2000 gamma camera with high resolution parallel hole collimator was used for scanning. To avoid the interaction of isotope, the early(30min.) and delayed phase(3hrs.) of Tl-20l scan was performed first and Tc-99m-MIBI scan was performed after 30 minutes, and then Tc-99m-MDP scan 48 hours later. The scan images were visually evaluated by a blinded nuclear medicine physician. We could find true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative by the comparison of results with those of biopsy. We calculated positive and negative predictive value(%), sensitivity(%), specificity(%) and diagnostic accuracy(%) of each scan. RESULT : The results of each scan were 85.7, 100, 100, 85, 92.1% in Tl-201, 81, 94.1, 94.4, 80, 86.8% in Tc-99m-MIBI and 50, 66.7, 88.9, 20, 52.6% in Tc-99m-MDP scan. As a conclusion, Tl-201 scan was the most specific and accurate method for detecting malignant tumor tissue. Tc-99m-MIBI scan was also good for malignant tumor searching. CONCLUSION : With our results, we can use Tl-201 scan to differentiate benign from malignant tumor, and to evaluate the response of preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and to determine the residual tumor or local recurrence. For the better result, we need to have a more detail information about false positive cases and a more objective and quantitative reading technique.