Strontium 87m Scanning

Abstract

Strontium 87m scanning was performed on 30 children with suspected infection involving the musculoskeletal system. All 20 patients, who in final analysis were considered to have septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or diskitis, had positive scans. In only two instances did the roentgenograms show osseous lesions at the time of scanning. Strontium 87m scanning appears to be a very sensitive indicator of infection, whether in bone or joints. A negative scan would appear to rule out the presence of an active infection of bone or joints.