Aortoiliac-graft infection. Detection by leukocyte scan

Infection of a vascular synthetic graft in the aortoliac position is a lethal complication of vascular reconstructive surgery. Difficulties in diagnosis and the subsequent delays in treatment are significant factors in the excessive mortality. Currently available diagnostic methods are extremely limited in their ability to detect infection in the retroperitoneal position, particularly at an early stage. A case is reported in which an aortoiliac-graft infection was detected by a leukocyte scan using indium 111 while the infection was at a relatively subtle clinical stage, and possible future application of leukocyte scanning to this difficult diagnostic problem is discussed.