Gallium scanning in the 'new' tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the findings and usefulness of Ga-67 scanning in recent cases of tuberculosis (TB).


METHODS
The authors reviewed chest x-ray films and Ga-67 citrate scans of 52 patients with culture-confirmed infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis treated after 1988.


RESULTS
Ga-67 scans were positive in every case, delineating upper lobe lung lesions in 6 patients, diffuse involvement or lower lobe disease in 34 patients, and intrathoracic adenopathy in 15 patients. Pulmonary parenchymal lesions were not detected on x-ray films in 3 patients, and nodal lesions were not apparent in 3 patients. In addition, in 6 patients cervical adenopathy was detected by Ga-67 scintigraphy; 4 underwent biopsy with culture confirmation.


CONCLUSIONS
Ga-67 scanning is more sensitive than routine chest radiography for detection of both TB parenchymal lung involvement and adenopathy. Ga-67 imaging facilitates the choice of biopsy sites by identifying accessible peripheral nodes. Typical patterns in recent cases of TB differ significantly from the upper lobe predilection of classical TB.
Goldfarb
C R
CR
Adult Primary Care Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Colp
C
C
Ongseng
F
F
Finestone
H
H
Havas
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002951:Citrates; D005260:Female; D005708:Gallium; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D002951:Citrates; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D005708:Gallium; C103850:gallium citrate