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

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Nucl. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5503772

Maurer, A H; Chen, D C; Camargo, E E; Wong, D F; Wagner, Jr, H N; Alderson, P O

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 skeletal 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: The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
• OSTI ID: 5503772
• Journal Information: J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 22:11; ISSN JNMEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
550901 -- Pathology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC USES
DISEASES
DRUGS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
OSTEOMYELITIS
PATHOLOGY
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOLOGY
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
SCINTISCANNING
SKELETAL DISEASES
SKELETON
USES