Gallium Citrate Ga 67 Imaging in Patients With Suspected Inflammatory Processes

Abstract

Thirty-six patients with clinically suspected inflammatory processes were evaluated with gallium citrate Ga 67 imaging after routine clinical and radiologic procedures failed to localize the abnormality. Twenty-five of the patients had abnormal images. Inflammatory lesions were confirmed by aspiration, surgery, or autopsy in 16. Eight of these patients had recent abdominal surgery and abscesses were confirmed by a second operation. Nine patients with abnormal images had localized bacterial infections that responded to prolonged antibiotic therapy. Gallium citrate Ga 67 imaging is an accurate way to localize inflammatory processes and is an important diagnostic study in the febrile patient when routine clinical and radiologic studies do not demonstrate the infectious process.