The role of bone scan and radiography in the diagnostic evaluation of suspected pedal osteomyelitis.
The authors reviewed the three-phase bone scans and radiographs of 24 patients with suspected pedal osteomyelitis who also had histologic confirmation of the diagnosis. Twenty patients had a pedal ulcer, cellulitis, or necrosis. Sensitivity and specificity of bone scanning were 70% and 43% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of radiography were 70% and 50% respectively. The non-invasive diagnosis of pedal osteomyelitis remains problematic due to the poor specificity of bone scans and radiographs.
Segall
G M
GM
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Nino-Murcia
M
M
Jacobs
T
T
Chang
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate