Osteomyelitis and arthritis

Semin Nucl Med. 2009 Jan;39(1):27-35. doi: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2008.08.003.

Abstract

Infections of bone and the joints can represent major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to all clinicians. Together with osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, soft-tissue infections like cellulites/fasciitis and abscess formation can occur, which have to be treated appropriately. Bone scintigraphy is a sensitive method that can be used to search for bone and joint infections. Labeled leukocytes often are used as the gold standard to identify infectious foci in the musculoskeletal system, but major drawbacks of this method are the imaging of chronic infections and imaging of the axial skeleton. Like (111)In-labeled leukocyte imaging, (99m)Tc-labeled antigranulocyte antibody scintigraphy has a role in the imaging of osteomyelitis of the peripheral skeleton. Magnetic resonance imaging is widely used to evaluate musculoskeletal infections and is excellent in identifying abscess formation, but the extent and spread of infection is sometimes difficult to delineate because hyperemia and infection are not congruent.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies
  • Arthritis, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Arthritis, Infectious / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Leukocytes / cytology
  • Leukocytes / diagnostic imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Musculoskeletal System / diagnostic imaging
  • Musculoskeletal System / immunology
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnosis
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Organotechnetium Compounds