GALLIUM SCINTIGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF DISK-SPACE INFECTIONS - CONCISE COMMUNICATION

Abstract

Disc-space infections may present a difficult diagnostic problem. To evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of 67Ga scanning for disc-space infections, a retrospective review was made of the records of 100 consecutive patients in whom Ga scans were obtained and disc-space infection suspected. Of the 100 patients, 19 had disc-space infections with positive Ga scans in 17. In 3 of these, the Ga scan was positive; the results on radiographs and other tests were normal. Ga scanning was a useful adjunct in the evaluation of patients with suspected disc-space infections; the sensitivity was 89%, specificity 85% and accuracy 86%.