title: The futility of bone scanning in neonatal osteomyelitis: concise communication.
abstract: Twenty-one neonates suspected of having acute osteomyelitis were studied by technetium-99m phosphate radiopharmaceuticals. Of the ten infants subsequently proven to have osteomyelitis involving 20 sites in all, only sis sites (31.5%) were abnormal by bone imaging. Fifty-eight percent were normal and 10.5% equivocal. These poor results are contrary to the high accuracy rate achieved in slightly older infants; they negate the ability of the bone scan to diagnose neonatal osteomyelitis.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004164:Diphosphonates; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011122:Polyphosphates; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D011122:Polyphosphates; D013667:Technetium