Technetium Tc 99m diphosphonate bone scan. False-normal findings in elderly patients with hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Arch. Intern. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.147.11.2024· OSTI ID:5725690

Schlaeffer, F; Mikolich, D J; Mates, S M

Hematogenous osteomyelitis is usually diagnosed by an abnormal technetium Tc 99m diphosphonate bone scan in symptomatic patients who have positive blood cultures. False-normal 99mTc bone scans have been described recently in neonates with biopsy-proved osteomyelitis. This phenomenon seems to be extremely rare in adults. Two elderly patients with hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis had normal technetium Tc 99m diphosphonate bone scans when first evaluated. In both cases the bone scans became abnormal four to six weeks after onset of symptoms and two to four weeks after the initial normal results of the study. When suggested by the clinical picture, hematogenous osteomyelitis cannot be ruled out by a normal 99mTc bone scan at any age. Gallium scan, computed tomographic scan, or bone biopsy can be helpful in such cases.

• Research Organization: Roger Williams General Hospital, Providence, RI
• OSTI ID: 5725690
• Journal Information: Arch. Intern. Med.; (United States), Vol. 147:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
OSTEOMYELITIS
DIAGNOSIS
SKELETON
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
AGED ADULTS
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
PATIENTS
SPONDYLITIS
TECHNETIUM 99
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
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HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPES
RHEUMATIC DISEASES
SKELETAL DISEASES
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics