[Osteitis diagnosis in a group of angiology patients: a comparison of X-ray and nuclear medicine studies].
OBJECTIVE
Of the study was to examine the ranking of radiographs and bone scans in the diagnosis of osteitis.


METHODS
115 patients with arterial occlusive disease in stage Fontaine i.v. were referred for examination of the peripheral skeletal parts of the lower extremity. 126 radiographs and bone scans were taken. The time between the two examinations was 10 days maximum to enable direct comparison. Leukocyte scintigraphy was employed as gold standard.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of radiographs was 47% with a specificity of 91%. Sensitivity and specificity of bone scans was 78% for both values. The positive predictive values for radiographs and bone scans were 88% and 85%, the negative predictive values were between 80% and 97%.


CONCLUSIONS
In the majority of cases osteitis can be diagnosed with relatively inexpensive methods such as conventional x-rays and bone scans. Only in unclear cases further examinations such as leukocyte scintigraphy or magnetic resonance imaging should supplement the diagnosis.
Zentralinstitut für Röntgendiagnostik, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
C
C
Gocke
P
P
Gocke
K
K
Kröger
M H
MH
Thelen
R D
RD
Müller
R
R
Langer
G
G
Rudofsky
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010000:Osteitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate