Detection of localized Salmonella infection by gallium-67 citrate scan

Fifteen cases (9 males, 6 females, ages: 18-73 y/o) of salmonella bacteremia were referred for a Gallium-67 citrate (Ga-67) scan to detect the focal site(s) of salmonella infection. Among them, 8 were finally proved to have focal infection(s). Their underlying diseases were systemic lupus erythematous (SLE, 4 cases), malignancies (2 cases), immunocompromise (1 case) and unknown disease (1 case). The focal infections detected were septic arthritis in 6, soft tissue abscesses in 4 and lung abscesses in 2. This report suggests that Ga-67 scan is of great value in detection of localized salmonella infection.