Gallium scanning as a screening test for inflammatory lesions

Of the 67-Ga scans obtained in 42 patients with fever and suspected inflammatory lesions, 17 were positive. In 9 patients the scans yielded information about localized inflammation not provided by previous studies. Four patients did not have an inflammatory lesion at the positive site. Ten of 13 abscesses or inflamed wounds visualized and those not demonstrated were resolving without complication. Scans were normal in most patients with viral illnesses and nonlocalized inflammatory lesions. In 8 of 9 patients with fever of unknown origin the scan was normal. normal scan did not rule out inflammatory lesions but no significant localized pyogenic lesions were missed.