A critical appraisal of pinhole scintigraphy of the ankle and foot.
BACKGROUND
Scintigraphy is an established imaging technique for injuries of the ankle and foot that are not apparent on plain radiographs. The scintigraphic technique has varied, with planar and pinhole images being used.


METHODS
The incremental value of pinhole scintigraphy over planar imaging was studied in 16 patients with established diagnoses. Inter-reporter reproducibility was also measured.


RESULTS
Pinhole scintigraphy improved the diagnostic specificity in nearly one half of the patients (48%). It did not contribute substantial information in 46% and led to confusion in the diagnosis of one patient. Inter-reporter agreement was good, with a kappa value of 0.78. Diagnoses varied from fractures of the talar dome to avulsion fractures of the malleoli and impingement syndromes.


CONCLUSIONS
Pinhole images add a significant incremental value to planar scintigraphy of the foot and ankle. Although this had been perceived intuitively in the past, it has not been critically evaluated. The technique has good inter-reporter agreement.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate