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Combined bone marrow and gallium imaging. Differentiation of osteomyelitis and infarction in sickle hemoglobinopathy

Journal Article · · Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States)

The clinical records and scintigrams of patients with sickle hemoglobinopathy who underwent combined Tc-99m bone marrow imaging and Ga-67 imaging to differentiate osteomyelitis from bony infarction were reviewed. Of 18 paired examinations in 15 patients, osteomyelitis was diagnosed correctly in six cases; in all six, gallium uptake at the symptomatic site was incongruently increased relative to the bone marrow activity. Of the 12 episodes of infarction, 11 showed congruent activity on both Tc-99m and Ga-67 images. The remaining study was interpreted incorrectly as osteomyelitis due to incongruent Tc-99m and Ga-67 uptake. The use of sequential Tc-99m bone marrow and Ga-67 imaging is an effective means of distinguishing osteomyelitis from bony infarction in patients with sickle hemoglobinopathy.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Chicago Medical Center, IL (USA)
OSTI ID:
6924220
Journal Information:
Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 13:6; ISSN CNMED
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English