Indium white blood cell scan
Encyclopedia
The indium white blood cell scan, also called "indium leukocyte imaging," "indium-111 scan," or simply "indium scan," is a nuclear medicine
procedure in which white blood cells (mostly neutrophils) are removed from the patient, tagged with the radioisotope Indium
-111, and then injected intravenously into the patient. The tagged leukocytes subsequently localize to areas of relatively new infection. The study is particularly helpful in differentiating conditions such as osteomyelitis
from decubitus ulcers for assessment of route and duration of antibiotic
therapy.
In imaging of infections, the gallium scan
has a sensitivity advantage over the indium white blood cell scan in imaging osteomyelitis
(bone infection) of the spine, lung infections and inflammation, and in detecting chronic infections. In part, this is because gallium binds to neutrophil membranes, even after neutrophil death, whereas localization of neutrophils labeled with indium requires them to be in relatively good functional order. However, indium leukocyte imaging is better at localizing acute (i.e., new) infections, where live neutrophils are still rapidly and actively localizing to the infection, for imaging for osteomyelitis that does not involve the spine, and for locating abdominal and pelvic infections.
Both the gallium scan and indium-111 white blood cell imaging may be used to image fever of unknown origin
(elevated temperature without an explanation). However, the indium leukocyte scan will localize only to the approximately 25% of such cases which are caused by acute infections, while gallium is more broadly sensitive, localizing to other sources of fever, such as chronic infections and tumors.
Nuclear medicine
In nuclear medicine procedures, elemental radionuclides are combined with other elements to form chemical compounds, or else combined with existing pharmaceutical compounds, to form radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to the patient, can localize to specific organs...
procedure in which white blood cells (mostly neutrophils) are removed from the patient, tagged with the radioisotope Indium
Indium
Indium is a chemical element with the symbol In and atomic number 49. This rare, very soft, malleable and easily fusible post-transition metal is chemically similar to gallium and thallium, and shows the intermediate properties between these two...
-111, and then injected intravenously into the patient. The tagged leukocytes subsequently localize to areas of relatively new infection. The study is particularly helpful in differentiating conditions such as osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
from decubitus ulcers for assessment of route and duration of antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
therapy.
In imaging of infections, the gallium scan
Gallium scan
A gallium scan or gallium 67 scan is a type of nuclear medicine study that uses a radioactive tracer to obtain images of a specific type of tissue, or disease state of tissue. Gallium salts like gallium citrate and gallium nitrate are used. The form of salt is not important, since it is the freely...
has a sensitivity advantage over the indium white blood cell scan in imaging osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
(bone infection) of the spine, lung infections and inflammation, and in detecting chronic infections. In part, this is because gallium binds to neutrophil membranes, even after neutrophil death, whereas localization of neutrophils labeled with indium requires them to be in relatively good functional order. However, indium leukocyte imaging is better at localizing acute (i.e., new) infections, where live neutrophils are still rapidly and actively localizing to the infection, for imaging for osteomyelitis that does not involve the spine, and for locating abdominal and pelvic infections.
Both the gallium scan and indium-111 white blood cell imaging may be used to image fever of unknown origin
Fever of unknown origin
Fever of unknown origin , pyrexia of unknown origin or febris e causa ignota refers to a condition in which the patient has an elevated temperature but despite investigations by a physician no explanation has been found....
(elevated temperature without an explanation). However, the indium leukocyte scan will localize only to the approximately 25% of such cases which are caused by acute infections, while gallium is more broadly sensitive, localizing to other sources of fever, such as chronic infections and tumors.