title: Bone scans in sternal osteomyelitis complicating hemodialysis blood access.
abstract: Sternal osteomyelitis complicating infection of vascular access for hemodialysis is exceedingly rare and presents serious diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Two hemodialysis patients with sternal osteomyelitis following vascular access infection are reported. Factors favoring sternal location of the infection included previous chest trauma in the first patient and difficult insertion of a dialysis subclavian catheter in the second patient. Indium oxine, gallium, and three-way bone scans were instrumental in establishing diagnosis and in documenting cure by prolonged antibiotic courses. Sternal scans should be performed in dialysis patients with vascular access infections and signs of sternal disease.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tzamaloukas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate