Infection

A gallium scan is used to look for inflammation, infection, or cancer in the body. This test requires an injection of radiopharmaceutical into a vein in the arm followed by images from 1 day to 7 days later, depending on the clinical indications..

Preparation: Nil

Test Duration:

• Injection: 5 minutes
• Scan time: 45 minutes
• When you book the appointment we will let you know the time frame involved, ie. how many days after the injection you will be required to come in for the scan

Are there any after effects: No

Clinical Indications:

• Tumour – Staging, evaluation of response to therapy, assessment of residual masses post therapy and detection of tumour recurrence. Tumour types which may be detected with gallium include: Hodgkin’s disease, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (in particular the high grade lymphomas), Burkitt’s lymphoma, sarcoma, melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Fever of Unknown Origin
• Osteomyelitis
• Sarcoidosis

Click to enlarge.

The above 3 images show deposits of lymphoma in 3 different patients.

This scan detects infection in bones, joints and soft tissue as well as inflammation due to other causes such as inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease). We will take some of your blood and label it with a radioactive substance so that the camera can detect it. Then we will re-inject the blood back into your body an hour later and wait 3 hours before imaging commences.

Preparation: Nil

Test Duration:

• Labelling of blood – 1 hour
• Scan duration – 45 minutes (you will return to the department 3 hours after your blood has been re-injected)

Are there any after effects: No

Clinical Indications:

• Infection in bones, joints and soft tissue
• Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)

Image of active infection in the Right Knee

Image of active Crohn’s disease

Click images to enlarge.