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Title: Utility of three-phase skeletal scintigraphy in suspected osteomyelitis: concise communication

Journal Article · · J. Nucl. Med.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5714542

Three-phase skeletal scintigraphy, consisting of a radionuclide angiogram, an immediate postinjection ''blood-pool'' image, and 2-3 hr delayed images, was performed on 98 patients with suspected osteomyelitis. This procedure was evaluated by first interpreting only the delayed images, next the combination of ''blood-pool'' and delayed images, and finally the three-phase study. There was no change in the sensitivity (12/13 = 0.92) for detecting osteomyelitis, but the false-positive rate for osteomyelitis decreased from 0.25 (21/85) to 0.06 (5/85). In 21 of 64 patients (33%) with abnormal studies, the ''blood-pool'' image and/or the radionuclide angiogram led to a more accurate scintigraphic diagnosis. In 12 patients (19%) the ''blood-pool'' alone was enough to achieve the correct final diagnosis and was used most often to identify noninfectious disease. In 9 patients (14%) the radionuclide angiogram was required for an accurate interpretation and was considered essential most often in cases of soft-tissue infection. Both radionuclide angiography and ''blood-pool'' imaging appear to augment the specificity of skeletal scintigraphy in patients with suspected osteomyelitis.

Research Organization:
Johns Hopkins Medical Inst. Baltimore, MD
OSTI ID:
5714542
Journal Information:
J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Vol. 22:11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English