title: Ga-67 citrate scan in vascular graft infection.
abstract: The clinical utility of the Ga-67 scan has been studied in 9 patients with clinical suspicion of vascular graft infection. Eleven grafts were analyzed: 4 aortobifemoral, 2 iliofemoral, 3 femoropopliteal, 1 axillofemoral, and 1 axillobifemoral. The Ga-67 scan was positive in 8 grafts with bacteriological proof of infection and negative in 3 grafts in which infection was ruled out by clinical follow-up. A Ga-67 scan also demonstrated the spread of infection to the thigh in two patients and to the pelvis in another two patients. In 4 patients CT was performed. The CT findings included graft thrombosis, perigraft fluid collection and thickened graft wall. No discrepancies were found between the CT scan and Ga-67 scan. In three patients a control Ga-67 scan was carried out after specific antibiotic and surgical treatment. Two of these showed increased Ga-67 uptake and spreading of infection along the graft; in the other patient, a Ga-67 scan revealed normalization after resolution of an abdominal abscess. In conclusion, the Ga-67 scan proved useful in the diagnosis of vascular graft infection, the definition of location of the extent of the disease and in the evaluation of the efficiency of treatment.
authors: Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Universitario Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Banzo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Quirce
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Serrano
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Jimenez
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Tabuenca
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Carril
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes