title: The role of bone scan and radiography in the diagnostic evaluation of suspected pedal osteomyelitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Segall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nino-Murcia
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate