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Bone imaging findings in gangrene.
P Vasinrapee1, M D Reitz, F S Mishkin
1Department of Radiology, King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90059.
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|October 1, 1987
Summary
Three-phase bone imaging can detect gangrene of the toes early. Absent bone and soft-tissue uptake on scans is a specific indicator of this condition.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine
- Radiology
- Vascular imaging
Background:
- Gangrene of the toes requires prompt diagnosis for effective treatment.
- Three-phase bone imaging is a diagnostic tool used in various bone and soft-tissue conditions.
Observation:
- A review of three patients with toe gangrene revealed a distinct pattern on three-phase bone imaging.
- This pattern included absent perfusion and absent bony and soft-tissue uptake.
Findings:
- In one case, these characteristic imaging findings preceded clear clinical presentation of gangrene.
- The observed absent uptake pattern is highly specific for gangrene in the appropriate clinical context.
Implications:
- Three-phase bone imaging may aid in the early diagnosis of toe gangrene, potentially before overt clinical signs.
- This imaging technique offers a specific diagnostic marker for gangrene, guiding clinical management.