title: Radionuclide imaging in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis.
abstract: Five cases of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis diagnosed clinically and with radioisotope studies are reported. All patients presented with symptoms of back pain, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and a normal leukocyte count. Three had positive blood cultures and four had changes on plain radiographs. All five had positive phosphate bone and Ga-67 imaging, and two showed paravertebral uptake of gallium giving a "butterfly"-like appearance.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D004164:Diphosphonates; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013492:Suppuration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013667:Technetium
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D013667:Technetium