Osteomyelitis: an overview of imaging modalities.
Diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of patients who have an infection are the basic foundations of patient care. Early, appropriate interventions are associated with decreased patient morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic procedures with clinical information and laboratory results are integral in the assessment of inflammatory diseases and the prevention of sepsis. Some of the imaging modalities currently used for the assessment of inflammation include computed tomography, plain radiography, positron emission tomography, technetium Tc 99m bone scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, and leukocyte scintigraphy. In the case of patients who exhibit signs of osteomyelitis, it is necessary to understand that acute and chronic conditions are not based on the duration of the disease but on the histopathologic features of the disease. Although several imaging modalities are considered appropriate, there is not one singular procedure that is considered ideal. Rather, it is a combination of procedures and various other clinical factors. This article addresses some of the advantages and disadvantages of the modalities, with a focus on molecular imaging and the assessment of osteomyelitis.
School of Nursing and Health Sciences (Drs Macci Bires and George), Department Head Health Sciences/Nuclear Medicine Technology Program Director (Dr Macci Bires), Associate Dean School of Nursing and Health Sciences (Dr George) Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pennsylvania; and PET/CT and Nuclear Medicine Coordinator, Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital, Goshen, Indiana (Mr Kerr).
Angela Macci
AM
Bires
Bryan
B
Kerr
Lynn
L
George
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C068779:technetium Tc 99m (4-ethyl-2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diaza-2,9-decanedithiolato)oxo