Why patient should do the examination? (value of test).
Helps to differentiate between osseous osteoblastic activity and active infective process.
Who benefits from getting tested?
Patients with clinical suspicion of: Prosthetic joint infections. (hips, knees…).Acute or chronic osteomyelitis. Malignant Otitis Externa. (an invasive bacterial infection that involves the external auditory canal and skull base).
Are there any contraindications to the examination?
Pregnancy Lactation
What other tests should be done with this examination?
Gallium-67 citrate scintigraphy is done as a complementary scan to Tc-99m MDP triphasic bone scan. Other anatomical diagnostic modalities (e.g. CT, MRI, X-rays) of the region of interest as well as laboratory investigations (e.g. CBC, CRP) should be delivered for review before Gallium-67 scan.
Examination preparations
No specific preparations needed.
A brief description of the examination procedure
On arrival, the patient’s medical history is taken. 4-6 mCi of Gallium-67 citrate is administered intravenously. Image acquision may include regional, whole-body, planar and SPECT scintigrams or any combination, based on clinical data; performed after 6 hours and after 24 hours from injection. Pediatric dose is calculated based on body weight.
Where I can get tested?
The examination is done by a state of the art Gamma Camera machines (produced by Philips and GE) at Mohandeseen, Heliopolis and New Cairo branches.
Are there any aftercare or precautions to be done?
Patients should stay away from children (less than 12 years of age) and pregnant ladies, for at least 72 hours starting after injection of the radiotracer.
