Experimental infections of the musculoskeletal system: evaluation with MR imaging and Tc-99m MDP and Ga-67 scintigraphy.
Acute osteomyelitis, soft-tissue infection, or both were experimentally produced in 38 New Zealand white rabbits, and three-phase technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate, gallium-67, and magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained 7 or 14 days after infection. There was no significant difference between radionuclide studies and MR images in the detection of osteomyelitis, but MR imaging was significantly more sensitive (100% vs. 69%; P less than .01) in the detection of soft-tissue infection. In addition, cellulitis could not be distinguished from soft-tissue abscess on radionuclide studies, whereas MR imaging was 92% accurate in depicting soft-tissue abscesses. Further research is necessary to determine how to relate these findings to true human clinical situations.
Beltran
J
J
Department of Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus 43210.
McGhee
R B
RB
Shaffer
P B
PB
Olsen
J O
JO
Bennett
W F
WF
Foster
T R
TR
McCalla
M S
MS
Iskra
L A
LA
Blagg
R L
RL
Biller
D S
DS
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000818:Animals; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011817:Rabbits; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate