indium-oxine and Joint-Diseases

We report an analysis of the results obtained in our first 100 studies with indium-111-oxine labelled leukocyte scintigraphy, a diagnostic technique which has recently become available for clinical evaluation within Australia. We used this technique to assess patients with suspected sepsis or inflammation after other commonly used investigations had failed to confirm a diagnosis. Four patient subgroups were evaluated: fever of unknown origin; suspected abdominal or postoperative sepsis; suspected active inflammatory bowel disease; and suspected sepsis or inflammation of bones or joints. The course of all patients was followed for at least three months to establish the accuracy of the technique. The leukocyte labelling procedure took 90 min and imaging was carried out typically 3-6, 24 and occasionally 48 h after reinjection of the labelled autologous leukocytes. In one patient labelling of leukocytes was unsuccessful. In the remaining 99 studies the overall sensitivity of leukocyte scintigraphy was 88% (36 of 41 patients with a proved inflammatory or infective disease focus had positive scan findings); and the specificity was 95% (55 of 58 cases with no proved disease focus had normal scan findings). This series supports the use of this method as the imaging procedure of choice in nuclear medicine for the evaluation of suspected acute sepsis (symptoms less than four weeks' duration), of inflammatory bowel disease and of suspected infections involving appendicular bones which contain no active bone marrow. It is also a useful secondary scintigraphic procedure, after gallium-67-citrate scintigraphy, in patients with suspected infective disorders of more than four weeks' duration.

Topics: Abdomen; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Diseases; Female; Humans; Indium Radioisotopes; Infections; Inflammation; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Joint Diseases; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Organometallic Compounds; Oxyquinoline; Radionuclide Imaging

The in vitro and in vivo behaviour of 99Tcm-HMPAO (hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime) (n = 12) and 111In-oxine (n = 11) labelled granulocytes, isolated by density-gradient centrifugation (Metrizamide/plasma gradients), was compared in patients with suspected inflammatory diseases. The in vitro elution of both labels and the viability of the labelled cells (99Tcm, 98.5%; 111In, 96.5%) was comparable but the labelling efficiency was different (99Tcm, 44 +/- 13%; 111In, 72.5 +/- 5.5%). In vivo, the lung (t1/2 max: 7.7 min), liver and spleen perfusion patterns were nearly identical; the image quality for detail in 99Tcm scans was superior to 111In images. The blood disappearance curves of 99Tcm and 111In were comparable. In the small number of patients examined all infections could be diagnosed correctly, without false-positive or false-negative results. Disadvantageous is the renal excretion of 99Tcm complexes (3+% over 20 h) with kidney and bladder activity from the beginning of the study. The biliary excretion in half of the patients (n = 6) with unspecific positive small and large bowel visualization and the late intestinal excretion also render the diagnosis more difficult. The recommended best imaging times for abdominal and retroperitoneal inflammations are 30 min to 2 h after injection. Late scans in septic prosthetic joints have disproportionate long acquisition times. As a potential cell labelling compound, 99Tcm-HMPAO has a promising future in comparison to 111In scans because of the good availability of 99Tcm, the image quality and the lower radiation exposure to the patient when lower activities for the early diagnosis of abdominal inflammatory diseases are reinjected.

Topics: Colitis, Ulcerative; Crohn Disease; Female; Granulocytes; Humans; Hydroxyquinolines; Indium Radioisotopes; Inflammation; Isotope Labeling; Joint Diseases; Lung Diseases; Male; Organometallic Compounds; Oximes; Oxyquinoline; Polycystic Kidney Diseases; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime

Leukocyte suspensions labeled with In-111 oxine or tropolone were administered intravenously to 150 patients for the detection of suspected foci of bacterial infection by gamma camera imaging. The results were correlated with other imaging modalities, and clinical, laboratory, and surgical findings after a minimum follow-up period of six months. Twenty-five of 29 foci of bacterial infection were demonstrated on the leukocyte-labeled images (sensitivity of detection = 86%). Three of the four missed lesions were chronic active osteomyelitis. The specificity of detection proved difficult to define, varying with different criteria for a false positive diagnosis. In every region of the body, a variety of lesions other than foci of bacterial infection produced positive uptake of the labeled leukocytes. An intense focal uptake was uncommon in lesions other than abscesses and hematomas. It was concluded that imaging with labeled leukocytes is valuable for demonstrating sites of infection in conjunction with other diagnostic methods. Detectable leukocytic infiltration, however, may occur in inflammatory lesions of any cause and in some noninflammatory states as well.

Topics: Abdomen; Abscess; Adult; Aged; Bacterial Infections; False Positive Reactions; Female; Humans; Indium; Joint Diseases; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases; Neoplasms; Organometallic Compounds; Osteomyelitis; Oxyquinoline; Pelvis; Radioisotopes; Radionuclide Imaging; Respiratory Tract Infections; Sinusitis; Tropolone

A new nuclear scanning technique was found more specific for bone, joint, and soft tissue infections than any previously described scanning technique. The leukocyte scan, whereby a patient's own cells are labeled with a radioactive tagging agent (111In oxine), can distinguish an active infectious process from other pain-inducing conditions. Ninety-seven 111In labeled autologous leukocyte scans were performed in 88 patients. The findings in 17 of 40 patients scanned for possible acute osteomyelitis, six of nine for suspected septic arthritis, and six for possible soft tissue infections, were positive. Subsequent clinical courses verified the infectious nature of these processes in all patients. Patients who had chronic osteomyelitis (14), bony metastases (four patients), heterotopic ossification (three), and degenerative arthritis (two) demonstrated negative findings. Of the seven patients scanned for acute long-bone fractures, one demonstrated positive findings. Nine scans demonstrated positive findings without determined causes. The leukocyte scan is a useful addition to the diagnostic tools of the orthopedic surgeon.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bone Diseases; Bone Neoplasms; Female; Fractures, Bone; Humans; Indium; Infections; Isotope Labeling; Joint Diseases; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Organometallic Compounds; Ossification, Heterotopic; Oxyquinoline; Radioisotopes; Radionuclide Imaging