       Document 0260
 DOCN  M9620260
 TI    Imaging infection and inflammation in an African environment: comparison
       of 99Tcm-HMPAO-labelled leukocytes and 67Ga-citrate.
 DT    9602
 AU    Bester MJ; Van Heerden PD; Klopper JF; Wasserman HJ; Rubow S; de Klerk
       F; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
 SO    Nucl Med Commun. 1995 Jul;16(7):599-607. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96078733
 AB    A considerable segment of the population of South Africa has a disease
       spectrum similar to those of the industrialized countries. However, a
       much larger proportion of its inhabitants comes from historically
       disadvantaged communities and is plagued by diseases typical of the
       developing world. Infectious diseases head the list as a cause of
       mortality in certain age groups. We have studied 108 patients presenting
       with a wide array of infections. Fifty-eight patients were examined with
       67Ga-citrate and with 99Tcm-HMPAO-labelled leukocytes, 40 with
       leukocytes alone and 10 who had a high pre-test probability of
       tuberculosis with 67Ga only. The sensitivity and specificity of
       99Tcm-labelled leukocyte scintigraphy in the 58 patients who had both
       studies were 89 and 84%, respectively, while the corresponding values
       for 67Ga scintigraphy were 81 and 74%, respectively. The overall
       sensitivity and specificity for 99Tcm-labelled leukocytes for detecting
       inflammatory sites in all 98 cases were 92 and 89%, respectively.
       Although labelled leukocytes were the better of the two agents for the
       early diagnosis of infections with a high probability of neutrophil
       infiltration, 67Ga remains an excellent alternative. It is the first
       choice in patients in whom tuberculosis or a neoplastic process is
       suspected as a cause of fever. It is also safer to use in areas where
       labelling of leukocytes is inadvisable because of inadequate sterility
       or where the risk is high of infecting other patients or staff with HIV.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Age Factors  Aged  Child  Child, Preschool  Citrates
       Communicable Diseases/*RADIONUCLIDE IMAGING  Comparative Study  Gallium
       Radioisotopes/*DIAGNOSTIC USE/PHARMACOKINETICS  Human  Infant
       *Leukocytes  Middle Age  Organotechnetium Compounds/*DIAGNOSTIC
       USE/PHARMACOKINETICS  Oximes/*DIAGNOSTIC USE/PHARMACOKINETICS  South
       Africa  Tissue Distribution  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

