Infected knee prosthesis: diagnosis with In-111 leukocyte, Tc-99m sulfur colloid, and Tc-99m MDP imaging

Radiology. 1991 Jun;179(3):645-8. doi: 10.1148/radiology.179.3.2027967.

Abstract

Forty-one possible cases of infected total knee prostheses studied with indium-111-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-four of the prostheses were studied with technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy and 19 with Tc-99m sulfur colloid marrow scintigraphy. Nine prostheses were infected, and 32 were uninfected. The accuracy of combined labeled leukocyte and sulfur colloid marrow imaging (95%) was higher than that of labeled leukocyte scintigraphy alone (78%), bone scintigraphy alone (74%), or combined labeled leukocyte and bone scintigraphy (75%). The authors conclude that combined labeled leukocyte and sulfur colloid imaging is an accurate method for diagnosis of infected knee prostheses. In this series, this technique was superior to labeled leukocyte and bone imaging, alone or in combination.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Indium Radioisotopes*
  • Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Knee Prosthesis*
  • Leukocytes / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate*
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid*

Substances

  • Indium Radioisotopes
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate