The "warm" sacroiliac joint. A finding in pelvic abscess.
Two patients with pain referable to the low back and sacroiliac regions had bone scans with similar findings. In each, one sacroiliac joint was "warm" (uptake on that side was slightly greater than that in the contralateral area). Ga-67 imaging also demonstrated increased uptake in the same locale. Subsequent CT scanning revealed pelvic abscesses adjacent to the affected joints. Asymmetric uptake of bone imaging agent may have been related to hyperemia and "heating" of the sacroiliac joint. Rapid defervescence with antibiotics and drainage (and no CT evidence of bone involvement) suggested that osteomyelitis was not involved in these cases.
Department of Radiology, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut.
J D
JD
Slavin
N
N
Epstein
J A
JA
Negrin
R P
RP
Spencer
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D010388:Pelvis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes